Members of the Oodua Republic under the aegis of Yoruba Nation Agitators who are currently facing trial before an Oyo State High Court have pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court yesterday.
The case with suit number I/51c/2024 involves the State Versus Adeyemo Peter & 26 others. It held at the Fiat Court 3, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan presided over by Justice K. B Olawoyin.
The defendants (1- 27) facing trial include: Adeyemo Peter, Adeyemo Joseph, Amos Oluwaseyi Ogundeji, Ayanwale Rofiat, Olalere Mathew and Ismaila Malomo Peter.
Also, Fatoki Anthony, Murittala Abefe, Ismaila Adepoju, Fatunmbi Wasiu, Isaac Friday, Ayanwale Saburi, Adeola Elegbede, Ademola Adeniyi, Ogundeji Alabi, Ojo Olufemi, Ajani Ezekiel, Adejumo Lateef and Ayoola David.
Others are Adesokan Hameed, Adesokan Hameed, Abiona Esther, Omoyajowo Funsho, Tola Olufemi, Oritola Alabi, Kayode Fakeye and Taiwo Titilayo.
The suspect were arraigned on five count charge bothering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful assembly, treasonable felony and treason.
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The case is been prosecuted by the state government team led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr S. O Adeoye, O. R. Yussuf (Deputy DPP), O. S Tella (DDPP), Mrs G.O Sanni (Deputy Director, Legal Drafting and Ministerial Counseling) and S.A Osuolale (Senior State Counsel).
While Mr S.A Sanni appeared for the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th defendants, Mr Adebola Ogungbe appeared for 3rd, 4th, 22th and 22nd defendants, Yomi Ogunlola represented 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th and 26th defendants and Mr O. A Adeleke appeared for 23rd defendant.
The state prosecutor told the court of its application before it. The state in the application is seeking to: remove the name of the late defendant from the list, change a name that was listed twice and also include a name that wasn’t listed.
The Nation reports that, Adejumo Lateef who is the 18th defendant in the suit has died in custody, according to officials of Nigeria Correctional Services NCS) who told the court at the last hearing.
The application was not opposed by any of the defendants’ counsels. The prosecution was moved in terms and the application was granted by the court.
One of the defence counsels, Yomi Ogunlola, also told the court of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain some counts of the criminal charges, noting that the Oyo state government needs the Fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute those counts, especially the one that deals with treason.
