Attempted murder: Court remands 8 PDP members in correctional facility

A Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state capital on Thursday remanded eight members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ilesa correctional facility over attempted murder.

The defendants include Olaniyan Jelili (53), Awotunde Nureni (35), Nurudeen Taoheed (30), Tiamiyu Olamide (38), Zaccheus Awosogbon (41), Onikola Adekunle (46), Rasaki Lawal (44) and Adebisi Aditu (45).

They were accused of allegedly attempting to kill the deputy national publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr Diran Odeyemi, and a chieftain of the party, Akin Adeyi.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants “on the 10th day of February, 2020 at about 4.00 pm at the PDP secretariat Osogbo, did conspire to commit felony to wit attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, assault and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and thereby committed an offence.”

It reads further that the defendants “did unlawfully attempt to kill one Diran Odeyemi by hitting him with sticks on his head which made him unconscious for hours. The defendants unlawfully assaulted one Akin Adeyi by hitting him with fist blows and slaps and thereby committed an offence.”

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The alleged offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 320(1), 355,351 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol 11, Law of Osun State, 2002.

However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the five-count charges preferred against them by the Police.

Counsels to the defendants, Barrister Sina Adeniran and Nurudeen Kareem pleaded with the court to grant their clients bail, contending that they are still presumed to be innocent until proven guilty of the charges.

But, the prosecutor, Elisha Olusegun urged the court not to grant the defendants bail, noting that they are likely to jump bail because some of them are not residing within the court’s jurisdiction.

Presiding Magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, thereby ordered that they should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to March 6, for hearing of bail application.