Ondo court arraigns 17 suspects over alleged rape, kidnapping, robbery

By Boye Oyeyemi

Seventeen suspects have appeared before the Akure Magistrate’s Court in Ondo State over various alleged offences, including rape, kidnapping, attempted murder, armed robbery, burglary and threats to life.

The defendants were brought before Chief Magistrate Damilola Sekoni in 10 separate cases following investigations by the Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun.

In one of the cases, five defendants — Eweje Idowu, Orina Ifeoluwa, Enibire Iranlowo, Oladele Friday and Egbotan Temitope — were accused of conspiring to commit murder and kidnapping at Idepe Forest, Igbotako, Okitipupa, on August 26.

Similarly, Mubarak Awwali, Abubakar Ismail, Muhammed Sheu and Nura Rabiu were accused of kidnapping a woman at Osi Bridge, Akure North, and allegedly robbing her of N550,000, a Samsung S25 phone valued at N900,000 and an Oraimo power bank worth N50,000.

The court also heard a case against Samuel Christopher, who was accused of breaking into a residence at Aaye Community, Irese, Akure, and raping a woman, while Epebinu Folawunmi allegedly burgled a house in Okitipupa, attempted to rape its occupant and threatened her life.

Meanwhile, Hassan Shehu Umoru was accused of attacking a man with a machete along Idanre Road, Akure, before allegedly dispossessing him of his belongings. On the other hand, Emmanuel Ezeniah faced a separate charge of stealing a generator.

Following the proceedings, the court ordered the five defendants in the alleged murder and kidnapping case and the four accused of kidnapping and armed robbery to be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, while the other cases were adjourned for bail applications, hearings or trial.

In a separate case, the court convicted a pastoralist, Usman Manu, of illegal open grazing and destruction of farm produce valued at more than N3.2 million and sentenced him to two years on each of five counts, with N2 million in compensation ordered for the victims.