Alleged murder: Court remands PDP chief in prison

A top member of Osun Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Adedotun Adebowale, and one other suspect, Mr. Francis Eluyera, have been remanded in prison for a murder charge.

When the case came up before Justice Oyejide Falola of an Osogbo High Court on Friday, both Adebowale and Eluyera pleaded not guilty to the charge that they were culpable in the killing of five persons in a church in Ile-Ife last April.

Five worshippers were killed inside the church by unknown gunmen on April 2, 2011.

The gunmen opened fire on the supporters of a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi Makinde, who were in front of his (Makinde’s) residence beside the church.

One of the supporters fled into the church, where some worshippers were having a vigil.

The gunmen fired from outside, killing the pastor, his son and three others instantly.

A drama played out in the court on Friday when Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Afolabi, who appeared for the state government, informed the court that the government was ready to discontinue with the case against Adebowale.

Before the case came up, Adebowale was the only accused facing trial while Eluyera was brought to court for the first time same day.

Afolabi said the appearance of Eluyera in court informed the decision of the prosecution to discontinue with initial charges against Adebowale and file fresh charges when the number of the accused has increased.

But counsel for the defendants, Mr Rowlane Otaru, described the attempt to discontinue with the case and amend the charges as an ambush laid against justice, stressing that the application to discontinue with the case must be in written and not oral form.

Afolabi produced a written application, which was served on the defence, and Adebowale was discharged only for him (Adebowale) to be re-arraigned along with Eluyera for fresh charges.

No sooner had Adebowale been discharged and stepped out of the dock than Afolabi informed the court of his decision to press fresh charges against the two accused persons.

They were subsequently arraigned again and Otaru applied for the bail of the accused but Afolabi opposed the application.

Otaru presented a medical report on the health of Adebowale, urging the court to allow him on bail.

The judge remanded the accused persons in the Ile-Ife prison and adjourned the case till April 30 for the consideration of the bail application.

He ordered prison authorities to ensure that Adebowale received adequate medical attention at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife.