Traditional Chiefs Remanded Over Burnt Palace In Osun
Two traditional Chiefs, Olatidoye Oyedokun (75) and Odebode Elijah Akande (60) were on Tuesday ordered to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly setting the palace of Salu of Edun-Abon ablaze in Osun state.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Oladoye Joshua had told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 19, 2018 at Edun-Abon in Ife North local government area of the state.
Oladoye further explained that the suspects unlawfully set the palace of Salu of Edun-Abon ablaze alongside vehicles packed therein.
Some of the vehicles allegedly set ablaze by the three suspects and their accomplices who are currently at large are; one Laurel car, one Geely car, one Benze car, two Honda motorcycles and two Bajaj motorcycles all worth N50 million naira.
The prosecutor alleged that the suspects set fire and caused injury to the right leg of one Prince Kehinde Oladepo and one Ayoola Abiola as well as allegedly stripped naked one Mrs Temitope Adeola and Oluwatoyin Olawoye, among others and took their nude photographs/ video and sent the clips on social media.
He said the accused have committed offence contrary to and punishable under Section 355, 338, 360, 353, 360, 320, and 443 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.11, Laws of Osun state, Nigeria 2003.
But, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the allegations slammed against them.
Defence Counsel, Mrs Bose Dada applied for the bail of the accused persons in the most liberal terms
Dada who assured the court the the suspects would not jump bail if granted bail said they are respected people in the society who have reliable sureties to stand for them.
In a swift response, Police prosecutor opposed the oral bail applications on the grand that the matter is a case of conspiracy in which other accused persons are still at large.
Oladoye further said granting bail at this stage would aggravate the tension in the community and also send a wrong signal to the society .
Ruling on the matter, Magistrate R A Olayemi held that though bail is the right of accused persons, but in view of the fact that there is still tension in the community granting bail to the accused would heighten tension in the community and expose the accused persons to unwarranted attack.
She therefore, ruled that there bail application would be considered in the next date of adjournment as she adjourned the case till January 28, 2019.
 was also ordered to be kept behind the bar by the same Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo over the same alleged crime.){kind=link}