THE Oyo State Ministry of Justice has discharged 27 of the 32 suspects apprehended for “killing” the Agugu Divisional Police Officer in Ibadan, Ike Nworgu.
The remaining five were recommended for trial.
On April 1, Nworgu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was killed when he went to Adekile near Orita Aperin in Ibadan North East Local Government to appease some irate youths.
The youth had alleged that there was an underground kidnappers’ den in a house and a boy, who entered it, was missing.
Nworgu mobilised his men to douse the tension and protect the owner of the house, Samuel Adebayo, from being lynched. But the irate boys shot him in the head with his service pistol.
His killing sparked off a reprisal attack by the police and soldiers, who arrested 46 suspects.
Having arraigned 32 of them before Magistrate A. A. Adebisi of the Iyaganku Chief Magistrate’ s Court 3, Ibadan, the Ministry of Justice issued a legal advice by Olatunde Mojoyinola, discharging 27 of them.
But the ministry found five of them culpable, having established a prima facie case against them.
In the legal advice addressed to the commissioner of police, the ministry said:”Having carefully reviewed the duplicate case file, it is hereby advised that the following should be charged with conspiracy and murder.
They are: Sakiru Rafiu (a.k.a. Lapanpa), Abdulahi Dabiri, Yemi Onifade (a.k.a. Olota), Ismail Alli (a.k.a. Etti), and Rilwan Muili (a.k.a. Soko).
Those discharged are Adebayo Hammed, Rilwan Okikiola, Rilwan Kazeem, Ogunniran Olalekan, Tiri Oladele, Lateef Sulaimon, Taofeek Ajibola, Ajibade Olayode, Jelili Rafiu, Adesina Sodiq, Opeyemi Rafiu, Adebayo Kudus, Kudus Dauda, Olusegun Onaolapo, and Dare Rasak.
Others include: Abiodun Olanrewaju, Alimotu Oriyomi, Obisesan Tobi, Lanre Ajekiigbe, Ogundele Kazeem, Fatose Dele, Olajire Mutiu, Dayo Oriade, Yemi Morenikeji, and Taye Johnson.
The legal advice requested that Rilwan Okikiola and Jelili Rafiu be preserved and protected to be used as prosecution witnesses.