BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have dragged four elderly people to an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly conspiring and stealing some items in the market.
The docked traders were an 83-year-old man who is the Babaloja of Sasa market, Osogbo, Muibi Olaoye, the Iyaloja of the market, Adijat Sapete, aged 50, a traditional chief in the area, Yusuf Kamoru, 57 and the leader of the Hausa community in the Sasa market, Abdulraman Abdullareem, aged 50.
The Point gathered that there have been a couple of crises in the market over its control between a group known as Matanmi Family, officials of Osogbo Local Government Area and the market leaders.
However, the police arrested the four suspects and accused them of damaging shops, sign posts and stealing building materials in the market.
The charge read, “That you Yusuf Kamoru, Muibi Olaoye, Adijat Sapete, Abduir Abdulkareem and others now at large in the year 2019 at Sasa Market Oke-Osogbo in the Osogbo magisterial district did conspire among yourselves to commit to wit malicious damage and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“That you did maliciously damage 24 shops valued N4,750,000, properties of Matanmi Family Osogbo, represented by Bolarinwa Taofeek and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 451 of the criminal code cap 34 Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“On the 13th day of October, 2023, at Sasa Market, you (accused persons) did destroy 3 sign post valued N10,500, properties of Matanmi Family Osogbo represented by one Prince Bolarinwa Taofeek and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 451 of Criminal code Cap 3, vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“That you did steal 32 sign post valued N109,500, properties of Matanmi Family Osogbo represented by one Price Bolarinwa Taofeek and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 390 (9) of Criminal cod Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“At the same time and place, you did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace when you destroyed the sign post belonging to Matanmi Family Osogbo in the public place which resulted to a pandemonium and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 249 (D) of Criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“That you Yusuf Kamoru, did steal planks valued N250,000, iron sheets valued N400,000, 24 wooden doors valued N720,000, asbestos valued N145.000, properties of Matanmi Family Osogbo represented by one Prince Bolarinwa Taofeek and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 390 (9) Criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.”
After listening to the charge, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Their counsels, Najite Okobe, Kehinde Adepoju, and Tunbosun Oladipupo urged the court to grant them bail in liberal terms.
However, the prosecutor, Inspector Temitope Fatoba objected to the bail application, saying releasing them has a tendency of provoking violence in the market.
Delivering his ruling, Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in the same amount. He said one of the sureties must be a recognised traditional chief while the other should be a house owner. The case was adjourned till November 11 for mention.
But, the defendants were unable to meet their bail conditions immediately and they were whisked to Ilesa Correctional facility where they stayed for a few days before securing their release.
