A Kwara State Magistrate’s court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday ordered that the 13 suspects charged with the alleged murder of the Olukoro of Koro in the Ekiti local government area of Kwara State, Oba Olusegun Aremu-Cole, be remanded at a Federal Correctional Service facility in Ilorin, the state capital.
The suspects were arraigned for alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, kidnapping and giving false information contrary and punishable under Sections 97, 221 and 178 of the Penal Code law of Kwara state, Nigeria and Section (1) Special prohibition Kidnapping law of Kwara state 2010.
Those charged before the Court are Godwin Jacob, Olowofela Oyebanji, Adefalolu Ayodele, Tewasie Francis, Babatunde Samuel, Godwin Joseph, Issa Number and Miracle Solomon,
Others include Abraham Kehinde, Muhammed Bello, Muhammed Muhammed, Ahmadu Umaru and Muhammed Dankai.
The Police First Information Report said that one Aremu Simon Adeyemi reported the case of the murder of Olukoro to the Eruku Police Division.
“The suspects pointed a gun at him, ordering him to follow them when he challenged them after noticing their movement around his grandson.
“He said his grandson escaped through the backdoor while the suspects proceeded to kill the monarch, kidnapped his wife and one Mercy,” the FIR quoted Adeyemi as saying.
The police prosecutor, Abdullah Sanni, informed the court of the motion ex parte attached to the police report, urging the court to remand the suspects.
In her ruling, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Monisola Kamson, ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre, Ilorin, while the case was adjourned till March 5, 2024, for further hearing.
On February 1, gunmen invaded Koro town and killed the traditional ruler.
The wife of the monarch, Olori Iyabo Aremu, was also abducted.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the release of the late monarch’s wife and her maid on Wednesday, February 7.
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