A Magistrate Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday, remanded nine close associates of immediate past state Chairman of Parks Management System, Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as Auxillary, in prison for alleged conspiracy, armed robbery, attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms.
The PUNCH had reported that police declared Auxillary wanted following the invasion of his hideout, where 78 hoodlums were arrested while guns and other dangerous weapons were recovered.
The suspects are, Olaniyi Abiodun, Kamoru Yusuf, Odunayo Ismaika, Kolawole Joshua, Oladosun Kunle, Fatai Abidemi, Oluwoke Akanbi, Sarafadeen Adewale and Tirimisiyu Odunayo.
They were arraigned on 16 counts at Magistrate Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan but they pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
They were also accused of attacking, maiming and dispossessing people of their valuables, which ran into millions of naira in Ibadan.
The charge sheets read in part, “That you (suspects) and others now at large on May 29, 2023 at about 14:00 pm at the state Governor, Seyi Makinde’s residence, Ikolaba area, Ibadan in the Magistrate Court district, did conspire together to commit felony to wit armed robbery and, thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6 (B) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap R 11 Vol 14 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004.”
The defence counsel, Barrister J. D. Olaniyan, argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case.
He, thereby, prayed the court to remand the suspects at Agodi Correctional Centre, pending the time that the case would be assigned to a competent court of law for hearing.
Olaniyan further argued that “The Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the case with the nature of the charges, which range from attempted murder to armed robbery. I, therefore, pray the court to remand them at Agodi Correctional Centre for accessibility and convenience. This will make it easier for their counsel to prepare their defence as well as their bail application.”
In his ruling, Magistrate S.H. Adebisi said the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, adding that the charges range from conspiracy, armed robbery, to attempted murder, which is a capital offence.
He, therefore, ordered them to be remanded in prison and subsequently adjourned the case till July 26, 2023.
