Police arraign 7 over attack on Osun First Lady
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Osun State Police Command has arraigned seven persons before a state’s magistrate’s court in Osogbo for allegedly attacking the First Lady, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola.
The defendants are; Omolola Paul (40), Rasaki Hammed (19), Soliu Waheed (21), Tiamiyu Basiru (30), Olayiwola John (26), Owoade Mutiu (28) and Ibrahim Tunde (20).
They were arraigned on Tuesday on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, serious assault and malicious damage.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Asanbe Kayode, accused the defendants with others at large of causing the breach of peace by attacking the first lady and inflicting injuries on her aide, Mr. Benson Oyebode and an operative of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mr. Femi Alabi, by pelting them with stones.
He said that the defendants unlawfully damaged the glasses of three convoys, valued yet unknown, properties of Osun State government attached to the first lady.
The Prosecutor informed the court that the defendants committed the offence on 19th of August, 2022 at about 8pm at Owode market, Ede.
Asanbe said the offences contravene Section 516, 249, 451(b), 356(2) of the criminal code cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations slammed against them.
Defence Counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 7th defendants, Adebiyi Gbenle applied for the bail of his clients in the most liberal terms.
Gbenle said that the accused were still presumed innocent until contrary is proved by a court of law.
He promised that the suspects would not jump bail if granted saying they would always make themselves available as at when due.
The presiding Magistrate, I.R Salami granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 and two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case till September 26, 2022 for hearing.
It would be recalled that security operatives attached to the convoy of Mrs. Oyetola sustained various degrees of injuries as suspected political thugs attacked the convoy.
