Osun monarch, four others remanded for illegal gold mining

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of an Osun State traditional ruler, Oba Taofeeq Osunmakinde, at the Kuje Prison in Abuja over an allegation of illegal gold mining.

Justice Emeka Nwite made the remand order shortly after the monarch, who is the Obawore of Ifetuntun in the Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, was arraigned alongside four others on two counts bordering on illegal gold mining.

The other defendants arraigned alongside the monarch are Sheu Mustapha, Sabiru Hashim, Danbaba Ibrahim and Ade Olap Global Resources Limited.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/426/2024, the Attorney General of the Federation accused the five defendants of conspiring with others at large on August 25, 2024, to engage in the illegal gold mining at the Ogunlepo mining site in Lege community, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The AGF said they acted contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and were liable to punishment under Section 1(8) of the same Act.

However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them.

Following their no-guilty plea, counsel for the Federal Government, Toluwalope Ojo, asked Justice Nwite to give a date for the commencement of trial.

The defence counsel, Vincent Ododo, on his part, prayed the court to grant his clients bail on various grounds.

While the Federal Government’s lawyer did not oppose the bail applications, he urged the judge to impose conditions that would ensure their appearance in court for their trial.

In a brief ruling, Justice Nwite granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N20m with one surety in the like sum.

The judge said the sureties must be residents in Abuja with ownership of landed properties and must produce a three-year tax clearance certificate.

In addition, Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants must deposit their passports along with three copies of each of their recent passport photographs with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, the judge ordered that they be remanded in Kuje Prison. He adjourned till September 26 for hearing.