- IGP Brings Murder, Firearms Charges Against Alleged Political Thugs
- Adejare Waliyu was accused of unlawfully possessing a prohibited pump action rifle
- The judge ordered that the case, referenced as FHC/ABJ/CR/655/2022, be transferred to the Osogbo Division of the Federal High Court
The Inspector General of Police has arraigned four Osogbo based suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of murder and unlawful possession of firearms linked to a political crisis in Osun State.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the defendants, Adejare Waliyu, Kilanko Ismaila Damilare, Kehinde Adeola and Muheeb Taoheeb, appeared before Justice Binta Fatima Nyako on Monday.
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They were charged in connection with the alleged shooting death of a man identified as Sheriff during violence said to have occurred between August and November 2022.
In the charge filed on behalf of the Inspector General of Police by counsel Adeniyi Oyeyemi, Adejare Waliyu was accused of unlawfully possessing a prohibited pump action rifle, contrary to provisions of the Firearms Act.
In the second count, all four defendants were accused of using the alleged unlawfully possessed weapon to kill Sheriff, an offence said to contravene the Criminal Code.
When the charges were read in court, all four defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution requested a date to begin trial proceedings. However, defence counsel Okon Ita filed an application seeking the transfer of the case to the Federal High Court in Osogbo, where the alleged offences were said to have occurred.
The defence argued that the incident took place in Osun State and that all witnesses listed by the prosecution reside in Osogbo. He maintained that, for convenience and in the interest of justice, it would be appropriate for the trial to proceed in the jurisdiction where the alleged crime was committed.
Although the prosecution opposed the request, Justice Nyako held that the defence submission had merit.
The judge ordered that the case, referenced as FHC/ABJ/CR/655/2022, be transferred to the Osogbo Division of the Federal High Court for administrative convenience and to facilitate proceedings closer to the scene of the alleged incident.
Pending the completion of the transfer process, the court directed that the defendants remain in the custody of the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The matter will now continue in Osogbo at a date to be communicated by the court.
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