Ondo State Police Command, yesterday, arraigned five principal suspects involved in the killing of a 25-year-old driver in Akure, the state capital.
The suspects: Victor Amos, 30; Ismalia, 32; Pelumi Farotimi, 42; Nurudeen Kumuyi, 22; and Samuel Olatunji, 23, were arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrate’s court on a three-count charge of felony, murder and arson.
Recall that the deceased was murdered by an irate mob on Easter Monday after he was accused of crushing some people with his vehicle along Ijoka Road.
In a charge numbered MAK/136c/2023, the accused persons and others at large, were alleged to had committed the offence on April 10, 2023, at about 9:00 p.m., when they stoned, beat, and lynched the deceased.
According to the police, the offences contravene Sections 324, 316(1), and 451(6)(J) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 2, Laws of Ondo State.
While informing the court that the accused persons conspired to commit felony and unlawfully murder the late Temitope, the prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintimehin, stressed that the defendants also maliciously damaged and set ablaze the deceased vehicle, a Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 627 GY.
In a written application, the prosecutor pleaded that the defendants be held at the Olokuta Correctional facility pending the issuance of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In their individual responses, the defence team prayed the court for an adjournment to enable each of the defendants file a counter affidavit to the prosecutor’s application.
Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus granted the requests of the defence and adjourned the matter to April 27, 2023, for a reply to the affidavit and ruling.
He ordered that the defendants remain in police custody until the next date of adjournment.
