Ile-Ife Clash: Court Grants Monarch, Pastor, Others Suspects Bail

Justice Kudirat Akano of Osogbo High Court, Osogbo has granted bail to the six suspects arrested in connection with the crisis that ensued recently between the Hausa and Yoruba communities in the ancient town of Ile-Ife which left about 46 persons dead.

The six accused persons are: a traditional monarch, Oba Ademola Ademiluyi, Pastor Taiwo Fakuajo, Akeem Eluwole , Bamidele Elurisanmi, Jimoh Sakiru and Daniel Olanrewaju

The bail of the suspects were argued by the defense counsel, Wole Olawoyin SAN and the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Simon Lough on Wednesday.

Justice Kudirat Akano in her ruling on Friday said “the main objective or function of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused persons in court during trial, bail to accused during trial particularly capital offences are based on grace. Ordinarily granting bail rests solely on the discretion of the court especially on the discretion of the judge”

“Bail is hereby granted to each of the applicant with N5 million each, two sureties, to swear to an affidavit of means. One surety must be one an Oba or a level 14 officer resident in Osun State and other surety must be a blood relation of the applicant”

“I hereby adjourn the case to July 13th, 2017 for further trial”.

The court which had commenced trial on Wednesday had taken two Hausa witnesses; Mallami Nasri, Abubarka Mutari and a Police Investigator in monitoring unit of Inspector General of Police, DSP Akinlabi Ogundile.

Before the bail was granted on Friday DSP Akinlabi was led in evidence by Prosecuting counsel, Mr Simon Lough. He testified that, “I sighted 100 houses and shops burnt during the clash, I saw 13 burnt vehicles and six motorcycles while myself and team also saw 46 dead people. We took the body of the 46 to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife”.

“I called pathologist, Dr. Olufemi Ojo and two other doctor to conduct autopsy on the corps after that we buried the corps .”

He further explained that some incriminating materials were recovered from the accused persons. Some items like; a green wheel barrow, 3 axes, a knife, sawing machine and four motorcycles.

He further said “During my findings I find out that the first accused person, Oba Ademola started and ended the clash but he claimed he traveled to Lagos during the clash”.

The witness, DSP Akinlabi tendered green wheel barrow, three axes, a knife, sawing machine and four motorcycle and three a standing fan while the court rejected the photograph of the 46 corpses because of failure of the witness to produce the serial number of the document.