Court remands notorious gang leader Rasheed over alleged murder, conspiracy
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State has ordered that a notorious gang leader, Hammed Rasheed, be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.
Rasheed, popularly called Oko-Ilu was brought to court on nine count-charge bordering on murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of guns and other dangerous weapons, arson, willful damage of people’s vehicles and other properties and belonging to unlawful society known as Eiye Confraternity.
According to the charge sheet obtained in court, the defendant and others now at large, between February 13, 2020 and August 7, 2022, terrorised the people of Ede community in the state for two years, killed two persons and shot a police officer.
Those allegedly killed included one Hassan Adedeji and Idowu (a.k.a Delta). The accused person was to have unlawfully shot one Inspector Gbenga Eke with intent to kill him.
The charge reads in part: “That you Hammed Rasheed and others now at large, between 13th day of February 2020 and 7th day of August 2022 at Ede, Osun State in the Ede Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“That you did unlawfully set on fire a dwelling house, a car and motorcycles belonging to one Kolade Jelili and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 443 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002,
“That you and others now at large, did unlawfully set on fire a dwelling house, one Toyota Corolla car and ten motorcycles property of one Olayiwole Wakeel and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 443 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“That you did engage yourselves in unlawful society known as Eiye Confraternity, a secret cult and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 64 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
“That you did unlawfully have in your possession two locally made guns and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap RII Vol 14 laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The accused was represented by a defence counsel, Taiwo Awokunle while Inspector Elisha Olusegun was the prosecutor.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre till October 7.
He ordered the police prosecutor to forward the duplicate of the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice for legal advice.
