Jungle Justice: 5 Persons Arraigned For Murder In Ondo

For allegedly lynching to death a 25-year-old driver, Temitope Olorunfemi, the Ondo State police command has arraigned five persons before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court, for alleged murder.

The suspects; Victor Amos, 30; Ismalia, 32; Pelumi Farotimi, 42; Nurudeen Kumuyi, 22 and Samuel Olatunji, 23, were arraigned on three counts of felony, unlawful murder, and arson in charge No. MAK/136c/2023.

The suspects were guarded in the court by police officers, followed by their family members, friends, and sympathizers of the deceased.

The prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintimehin, said the accused persons and others at large committed the offense on April 10, 2023, at about 9.00 pm, opposite Odopo Town Hall, along Ijoka Road, Akure, the state capital.

The prosecutor informed the court that the accused conspired to commit a felony and unlawful murder of the deceased, Temitope who was wrong to be “a suspected Yahoo boy”.

The suspects who were alleged to have murdered the deceased in cold blood with sticks, stones, and other offensive weapons, were also accused of maliciously damaging one Toyota Camry car with number plate KRD 627 GY, by setting it ablaze.

According to the charge, the offenses contravene Sections 324, 316(1), and 451(6)(J) of the Criminals Code, Cap 37 Vol. 2 Laws of Ondo State.

The court did not take the pleas of the defendants for lack of jurisdiction.

The prosecutor, through a written application, urged the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending the issuance of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The defence team led by O. Agbede, in their separate responses, prayed for an adjournment to enable each defendant to file a counter affidavit to the application sought by the prosecutor.

Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus, granted the requests of the defence lawyers and adjourned the case till April 27, for a reply to the affidavit and ruling.

He ordered that the defendants should remain in police custody till the next date of adjournment.

The deceased, Temitope Olorunfemi was gruesomely lynched to death by an irate mob on Easter Monday after he reportedly crushed three persons to death at different locations n the Ijoka area of Akure, Ondo State capital.