The Baale of Osogbo, Chief David Iyiola and four suspects have been dragged before a Magistrate’s court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State by the police for allegedly conspiring to threaten the lives of some of the residents of the state capital over disputed land.
The four other suspects, including a housewife, Mrs. Olayide makinde, Messrs Agbola Lukuman, Raji popoola and Rasaki Suleiman, were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, felony, threat to lives on Thursday.
Police prosecutor, Lamidi Rasaq, informed the court that the accused persons committed the offence at Amulegboro area of Oke Baale in Osogbo sometime in the month of April last year.
Rasaq said that the accused persons conspired among themselves to commit felony and forcibly entered a parcel of land at Amulegboro in Oke Baale belonging to the family of Adetunbi and Okunmojido families.
On the land, the traditional chief and others, while allegedly armed with dangerous weapons such as cutlasses and knives, chased Rasaki Adebayo, Waheed Adetunbi and Sikiru Quadiri away from the land, threatening to kill them should they return to claim the property.
The police said the accused persons’ action breached public peace while they were harassing and threatening the three persons.
He said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Sections 516A, 86, 81 and 249d of the Criminal Code Cap 34 vol.11 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2003.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge slammed on them.
Their counsel, Babajide Seun and Joy Isa, applied for their bail in the most lenient conditions, saying that the law presumed them Innocent until the contrary is proved.
Delivering his ruling in the bail application, the presiding magistrate, Magistrate Adenike Olowolagba, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N1million each with two sureties in like amount.
She ruled that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 8 with tax clearance certificate.
The matter was adjourned till June 22 for mention.
