Kwara monarch, nine others arraigned for communal clash

Success Nwogu, Ilorin

The Oloota of Odo-Owa, Oba Adeyemi Adimula, and nine other accused have been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, presided over by Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim.

The accused were arraigned for alleged criminal conspiracy, rioting, culpable homicide and inciting disturbance contrary to sections 97, 107, 221, 337, 243 and 114 of the Penal Code.

Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the accused were arraigned on Monday in connection with the mayhem between residents of Iloffa and Odo-Owa communities in the Oke-Ero Local Government Area of the state.

The other accused include Sumonu Amusa, Samuel Babatunde, Moses Oni, all from Iloffa community; and Ashaolu Seun, Owolabi Dare, Lasunkanmi Akinola, Oladipo Adebayo, Aderemi Adeniji and Aboyemi Olasupo from Odo-Owa community.

The First Information Report stated that on June 29, at about 6.30am, a communal crisis erupted between Iloffa and Odo-Owa communities, which were neighbouring towns in the Oke-Ero LGA.

It said the crisis was as a result of a misunderstanding arising from a dispute over the rightful community to inaugurate the new yam in the Obada Market being used by the two communities.

The report said the argument started between the two traditional rulers in the communities – the Alofa of Iloffa, Oba Samuel Dada, and the Oloota of Odo-Owa, Oba Adeyemi Adimula.

It stated that Adimula allegedly led a group of people into the market to disrupt the process of inaugurating the new yam by the Iya-Loja of Iloffa, Mrs. Abigeal Oladapo, on the instruction of Dada.

“The act later resulted in a mayhem between the two communities, during which two people were killed, while about 26 houses and four vehicles were burnt. Several people sustained varying degrees of injury,” the report read in part.

It added that during investigation by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, over 100 expended live cartridges used by the rioters were recovered from locations in the two communities.

The FIR further stated that the accused actively participated in the mayhem along with others at large.

It read, “Further investigation revealed that the actions of Oloota of Odo-Owa in the market ignited the crisis. Investigation is ongoing towards apprehending other suspects at large.”

The Oloota of Odo-Owa was represented by Mr. Rapheal Ashaolu, while other defendants were represented by two other counsel.

When the matter came up, Ashaolu applied for bail for Adimula, while other defence counsel did same for their respective clients.

But the police prosecutor, Mr. Isaac Yakubu, objected to the bail. He also sought an adjournment to enable the police to conclude investigation.

The magistrate, however, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

Mohammed adjourned the matter till July 27, 2017, for mention.

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Kwara monarch, nine others arraigned for communal clash

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