Justice Kudirat Akano of an Osun State High sitting in Osogbo, on Friday, granted bail to the six suspects arrested in connection with the violent clash that occurred between Hausa settlers and the indigenes of Ile-Ife, resulting in the death of 46 people.
A senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olawoyin, appeared for the six suspects, including a traditional ruler, Oba Ademola Ademiluyi; a cleric, Pastor Taiwo Fakuajo, and Messrs Akeem Eluwole , Bamidele Elurisanmi as well as Jimoh Sakiru.
Olawoyin appealed to the court to admit theaccused persons to bail and promised to produce them in court throughout the course of the trial.
But the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Simon Lough, asked the court to use its discretion in granting the accused persons bail.
Delivering ruling on the bail application, Justice Akano averred that, “The main objective or function of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused persons in court during trial, bail to accused during trial, particularly for capital offence, is based on grace. Ordinarily, granting bail rests sorely on the discretion of the court, especially on the discretion of the judge.”
She, however, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N5million and two sureties in like sum.
“Bail hereby granted to each of the applicants with N5million each, two sureties, to swear to an affidavit of means. One surety must be an Oba oa levr el 14 officer resident in Osun State and other surety must be a blood relation of tis he applicant,” Akano ruled.
She adjourned the matter to July 13, 207 f1or further hearing.
