Murder: Ondo Magistrate Court orders release of suspects for fresh investigation

A Magistrate Court sitting in Oke – Eda in Akure, Ondo state capital, on Thursday ordered the release of five suspects standing trial before the court over a murder case, to allow the police to conduct a fresh investigation into the matter.

The order was sequel to an application filed by the Police Prosecutor, Martins Olowofeso, who prayed the court for the release of the suspects who had been kept in the prison custody.

According to Olowofeso, the release of the five suspects to the police will help to unravel the mysteries surrounding the death of one Banji Adafi, who was allegedly killed in his residence by the suspects.

The Court presided by Magistrate Gbenle Awodeyi however granted the prayer, ordering the five suspects to be released to the police to allow proper and thorough investigation to allow fair hearing.

The suspects released on the order of the court included Yomi Balogun, Blessing Ogunlade, Oluwaseun Oluwalolu, Sodiq Babatunde and Ayomoposi Oluwatosin.

The five suspects and eleven others suspects had been arraigned before the court for armed robbery and murder contrary to the laws of the federation had pleaded not guilty to the crime.

However, their pleas were not taken as the court ordered the case file to be duplicated and sent to Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

The 16 suspects had been accused conspiracy “to commit felony to wit: armed robbery and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 6 (b) of the Robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14, law of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

They were also in the magistrate district “did rob me Banji Adafi of valuables and a sum of Thirty Three thousand Naira and at the time you were armed with guns and cutlasses and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(2) (a) and (b) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act, cap R11, vol. 14. Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Besides, they were alleged to have murdered “one Banji Adafi and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the criminal code, Cap 37, Vol.1, laws of Ondo state of Nigeria, 2006”

However, when the case came up for hearing, the Prosecutor said sequel to the petition from the family of the victim, Banji Adafi , alleging foul play and requesting for further investigation, the Police would want the case to be reinvestigated.

The lawyer from the office of the DPP, Mr Bamisile opposed the application saying that the Police should have written application to the effect rather than the oral application moved by the prosecutor.

However, the Presiding Judge, Awodeyi, granted the request in his ruling, and ordered the release of the suspects to the police for reinvestigation while September 14, 2017, was fixed for further hearing of the case.