An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on Monday revoked the bail granted to two of the defendants standing trial along with Oba Solomon Akinola, the Oloko of Oko in a case of alleged land grabbing and attempted murder.
The two defendants whose bail was revoked are Chief Sunday Aderinto and Adejare Adeleru.
Others defendants in the case are Chief Jimoh Asimiyu, Timothy Aderinto, Matthew Akintaro, Rafiu Ganiyu,Samson Ogunmola, Zacheus Adeleru, Kamorudeen Ajibade, Raji Rasaq, Mutiu Arowosaye, Oyeyemi Oyelekan, Olusegun Oyelekan and Sheriff Adio.
Justice Kareem Adedokun revoked the bail of the two defendants after he was informed by the prosecutor, Mr Isa O AbdulAzeez that the duo were among those that lunched a fresh attack on Aagba community on April 5.
The judge stated that bail could be revoked when a defendant facing trial commits a fresh offence.
He ordered the two defendants to be remanded in Agodi correctional facility.
Adedokun further issued a bench warrant on Timothy Aderinto, the fourth defendant, Matthew Akintaro, the fifth defendant,Rafiu Ganiyu, the six defendant, Samson Ogunmola, seventh defendant, Zacheus Adeleru, the nineth defendant and Sheriff Adio, the 15th defendant for their absence in court.
The court stated that Akintaro popularly called Paimo who had been constantly absent from court proceedings on the excuse of being mentally unstable must be brought to court on the next adjourned date either dead or alive.
He subsequently adjourned the case until May 13 for definite hearing of the defence.
Earlier, the prosecutor, AbdulAzeez had told the court that a fresh attack was lunched on Aagba village which led to the burning down of no fewer than nines houses including the house of Baale of Aagba, Chief Adesola Ajiboye.
He further said that the incident claimed the life of a 70 year-old woman,Madam Rachael Bamidele and the destruction of many other properties
In his response, the defence counsel, Hakeem Sabana said that he was not aware of the fresh attack, adding that he was no longer representing the first, second,third and the seventh defendants.
Chief Adesola Ajiboye, the Baale of Aagba who is an eye witness and a victim of the fresh attack also told the court that his house,properties and car was burnt down and the only thing left with him was the cloth he put on to the court.
He also stated the background of the incident is that Oba Solomon Akinola who allegedly sent his thugs to carry out the attack wanted to forcefully annex Aagba land to Oko land despite the fact that he lost the case in Court up till Supreme Court.
It would be recalled that the people of Aagba along with Tropical Farm Limited had in November 2023 instituted a case against the defendants on the alleged invasion of their community.
It was alleged that the invaders were on the order of Oba Akinola,Oloko of Oko.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had directed the police to investigate the matter and handed the investigation to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) who ordered the Oyo State Ministry of Justice to take over the prosecution.(End)
