The Elegbedi of Egbedi in Osun State, Oba Muideen Azeez, along with four other defendants, were remanded in the Ile-Ife custodial centre on Thursday after failing to fulfill the bail conditions set by the court. The five defendants were initially arraigned on June 27, 2024, facing 29 charges including arson, destruction of farmland, illegal possession of firearms, and robbery.
The other defendants—Akibu Abioye, Yisa Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, and Sarafadeen Abioye—are standing trial alongside the monarch before an Osun State High Court in Ede. According to the charge sheet, the defendants, along with others still at large, allegedly committed the offences on September 3, 2019. They are accused of robbing Wasilatu Akinola and other women working on a farm in Iloba of palm oil, palm kernels, livestock, and other goods valued at N10 million, while armed with firearms. The women were also reportedly subjected to violence during the robbery.
The charges are in violation of several sections of the Osun State Criminal Law of 2002. During Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Kudirat Akano granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties. One surety must be a level 16 civil servant with property within the court’s jurisdiction, and the other a recognized monarch. However, the defendants were unable to meet these conditions, and they were seen being escorted from the court by a vehicle from the correctional facility at around 2:10 pm.
The prosecution, represented by Mr. Abiodun Badiora from the state Ministry of Justice, presented a witness, Mustafa Waheed, who testified that Oba Azeez assaulted him after he brought police officers to arrest the monarch for allegedly destroying his farmland.
Justice Akano adjourned the case until October 16 for the continuation of the hearing.
