By Adeyinka Adeniran
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 on Wednesday.
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.
Others are: 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.
The list also include: 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.
The case which was slated for arraignment on Wednesday 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 Counselling) 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.
During proceeding, 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.
Corenews reports that, Adejumo Lateef who is the 18th defendant in the le suit has died in custody, according to officials of Nigeria Correctional Services 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.
Meanwhile, one of the defence Counsel 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 need the Fiat of the Attorney General of the Federal to prosecute those counts, especially the one that deals with treason.
He said the offences are federal offences, especially the one that deal with treason and not within the jurisdiction of the court, in pursuance of Section 37, Criminal Code Law of Oyo State, 2000, thus giving a notice of preliminary objection to the suit.
But, the Court said the objection cannot stop the scheduled arraignment, asking if other counsel are ready for the arraignment.
All the counsel answered in the affirmative.
As proceeding began, the counts were read and interpreted to the defendants in Yoruba language and each of the accused persons (defendants) individually pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
After the arraignment, the prosecution prayed the court for an adjournment to react to the notice of preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court, which all the defendants counsel did not object.
Ruling, Justice Olawoyin adjourned the case till November 13th, 2024 for hearing of the notice of preliminary objections as filed by Yomi Ogunlola, one of the Counsel to the defendants.
