Court Remands Suspected Killers Of 2 Ekiti Monarchs

A magistrate court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered the remand of one Bubuga Lede, said to be a member of a kidnap group which killed two traditional rulers in Ekiti State in January.

Lede, 25, who was arraigned by the police for attempted murder and other counts was remanded at the Correctional Custody in Ado-Ekiti.

Two traditional rulers: the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola were on January 29, 2004 ambushed and killed by  suspected kidnappers while the Alara of Ara-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba escaped from the scene.

When the case came up, police prosecutor, Inspector Osuolale Yomi, informed the Magistrate Court that there is probable cause to order the remand of the defendant at the Correctional Centre in Ado-Ekiti.

The defendant, according to him, is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence: conspiracy to kidnap, attempt to murder and murder of Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and Oba Samuel Olatunde Ishola.

He  told the court that the defendant allegedly attempted to kidnap Oba Samuel Adebayo Fatoba and Bamidele Ibikunle Joseph (driver).

The offence, the prosecutor said is punishable under Section 280, 241 and 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021 within Ekiti Magisterial District on 29th day of January, 2024.

He said the defendant was arrested in Ikole-Ekiti on January 29, 2024, with offensive weapons.

The police prosecutor said the duplicate of the case file has been forwarded to the Ekiti State DPP for legal advice.

The defendant was represented by Barrister Olusoji Oladele.

The magistrate, Olubunmi Bamidele, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Custody for 30 days pending legal advice from the DPP and adjourned the case till April 24, for hearing.