Amid tight security, no fewer than 29 crime suspects were on Friday arraigned by the Ondo State Security Network Agency otherwise known as Amotekun, has arraigned a total of 29 suspects in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Among them, ten were charged with kidnapping while others were brought before the Magistrate’s court for raping, cultism, and illegal possession of firearms among other criminal charges.

The state prosecutor, O.F Akerodolu told the court that the 10 respondents to kidnapping charges are Umaru Ibrahim, Ali Muhammad, Umaru Umaru, Abubakar Ali, Isah Jinadu, Ayuba Matu, Musa Adamu, Abubakar Bello, Isiaku Saliu, and Adamu Abdul.

He said the 10 respondents were arraigned with six-count-charge namely conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms.

The prosecutor further informed the court that some other members of the gang, who allegedly committed the crimes with the respondents between April and June 2023 between Owo and Akure highway, Ago Oyinbo in Akure, Igbatoro/Famuwagun Camp, were still at large

The state prosecutor, O.F Akerodolu, informed the court that the defendants and others at large committed the offences between the months of April and June 2023 between Owo and Akure road, Ago-Oyinbo in Akure, Osi in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

He told that the three persons kidnapped by the respondents are Musa Kareem, Odey Regina and Salami Yekini and they also demanded ransoms from the families of the victims.

Informing the court further on the offences committed by the respondents, the prosecutor said they allegedly raped Odey Regina and robbed one Lawrence Emmanuel of his motorbike and a sum of N450,000.

The prosecutor told that the offences committed by the respondents contravene Section 516, of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006, Section 3(ii)(b) of Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010, Section 3(2)(c) Ondo State Violence Against Persons(Prohibition) Laws of Ondo State 2021.

Akeredolu, therefore, urged the court that pending the advice of the Directorate Public Prosecution(DPP) the respondents should be kept in the correctional centre due to the weight of the offences they committed.

The attorneys to respondents, led by A.M. Obafemi, told the court that the oral application sought by the prosecutor was untenable.

He prayed to the court for an adjournment to a later date to allow him to reply the application on points of law.

Obafemi also told the court that the respondents had spent 30 days in Amotekun Corps custody and ‘their liberty was still dangling.’

The presiding judge, Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, adjourned the ruling on the application till August 21, 2023.

Meanwhile, while informing the court on Umaru Garuba, Bashiru Musa, Lawal Sule, and Badamosi Ayuba, the prosecutor said they were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and breach of peace.

He told the court that the five respondents committed the offences on July 28, 2023, at about 2:30 at Iju in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

The respondents, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his ruling, the Magistrate granted the respondents to N500, 000 bail each with two sureties each in like sum, adjourning the case till September 21, 2023, for hearing.

Another two suspects, Wasiu Isau and Tunde Adeyemi, who were also arraigned by Amotekun Corps, were charged with stealing and damaging of a community’s pumping machine on July 29, 2023, at Okitipupa in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

According to the prosecution the respondents allegedly stole and damaged a pumping machine valued at N50,000, belonging to one Felix Ayara.

The first respondent in the case, Isau, pleaded guilty to the charges, while the second respondent pleaded not guilty.

Delivering his ruling, the Magistrate cautioned and discharged the first respondent for being truthful, while he granted the second respondent, Adeyemi, N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter till September 21, 2023, for hearing.

Meanwhile, five other suspects, Stephen Taye, Femi Sunday, Hycent Chinedu, Sodiq Sheu, and Sanni Lawal were arraigned on an eight-count charge including stealing and receiving of stolen motorbikes.

While addressing the court, the prosecution said the respondents committed the offences on August 4, 2023 at different locations in Ondo and Ore.

The prosecution specifically told that the respondents stole a red colour Boxer motorbike valued at N400,000, which belong to one Waliu Raheem, at Elewure, in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.

According to the prosecution, the respondents also stole two motorbikes in Ondo city, valued at N450,000.

He said the motorbikes are of different brands and they belong to one David Samson.

The respondents were alleged to have, on the same day, stolen another Honda motorcycle valued at N400,000.

The prosecution also told the court the fifth respondent in the matter, Sanni Lawal, allegedly received motorbikes on July 7, 2023, despite that he knew the motorbikes were stolen.

The respondent was said to have bought the stolen motorbikes for N65,000 only.

A teenager, Olamilekan Akinola and one Ojo Arowolo were also arraigned for burglary and stealing.

Nevertheless, some of the respondents who could not perfect their bails were taken to Olokuta Correctional Centre in Akure. (Daily Independent)

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