Ife communal clash: Court grants monarch, pastor, 4 others bail

Reprieve came the way of six suspects arrested in connection with March 8, 2017 violent clash in Ile-Ife, Osun State, between the Yoruba and Hausa on Friday, when Justice  Kudirat Akano of Osogbo High Court, Osogbo granted them bail.

The clash, which occurred at Sabo area of Ile-Ife claimed more than 46 lives, while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The bail application of the six suspects; Oba Ademola Ademiluyi, Pastor Taiwo Fakuajo, Akeem Eluwole, Bamidele Elurisanmi, Jimoh Sakiru and Daniel Olanrewaju had been argued by the defence counsel, Mr Wole Olawoyin (SAN) and the prosecuting counsel, Mr Simon Lough on Wednesday.

But, Justice Akano in her ruling on Friday said, “the main objective or function of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused persons in court during trial, bail to accused during trial, particularly capital offence are based on grace. “Ordinarily, granting bail rests solely on the discretion of the court, especially on the discretion of the judge.

“Bail is hereby granted to each of the applicant with N5million each, two sureties, to swear to an affidavit of means. One surety must be one an Oba  or a level 14 officer resident in Osun State and other surety must be a blood relation of the applicant.”

“I hereby adjourn the case to July 13th, 2017 for further trial.”

The court, which commenced the trial on Wednesday, had taken 2 Hausa witnesses; Mallami Nasri, Abubarka Mutari and a Police investigator  in monitoring unit of Inspector General of Police, DSP Akinlabi Ogundile.

However, before the bail was granted yesterday,  DSP Akinlabi, who was led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Mr Simon Lough  said, “I sighted 100 houses and shops burnt during the clash, I saw 13 burnt vehicles and 6 motorcycles, while my team and I also saw 46 dead people.

“We took the bodies of the 46 to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife.

“I called the pathologist, Dr. Olufemi Ojo and two other doctors to conduct autopsy on the corpses  after that, we buried the corpses.”

He informed the court that some incriminating materials were recovered from the accused persons, including a green wheel barrow, 3 axes, a knife, sawing machine and 4 motorcycles, adding that “during my findings, I found out that the first accused person, Oba Ademola started and ended the clash but he claimed he travelled to Lagos during the clash.”