Court docks 11 over alleged attack on Kwara APC chair, others

Kwara state Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital Wednesday docked eleven persons for allegedly attacking the convoy of the state All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman and other members of his executives.

The party’s excos were allegedly attacked February 26th this year in Shao town, Moro local government area of the state during a thank-you tour of the council for the massive support APC got at the last general elections.

The suspects, who pleaded not guilty to the offences preferred against them, were accused of criminal conspiracy, criminal force and assault, hurt inciting disturbances and mischief contrary to Sections 97, 266, 243, 114 and 327 of Penal Code Law.

Police First Information Report (FIR) said “some aggrieved members on February 26th this year criminally conspired to disrupt the programme by inciting members of their group against the visiting state executives which later result into an attack on the visiting APC executive with stones and other dangerous weapons as a result of which the programme was disrupted and the vehicle conveying the party officials were equally damaged.

“In the process three persons which include Jimoh Saliu, Akanbi Rufiat and Ogunremi Akinjide at the venue of the meeting sustained various degrees of bodily injuries. Investigation further revealed that the attack was planned and hatched by the aggrieved suspects.”

Reacting to the suspects’ denial to the commission of the crime, Police Prosecutor Zacheous Folorunsho told the court that investigation into the matter “is still in progress.

“It is trite in law that bail is at the discretion of the court, we are waiting for another day for further notice.”

Lead counsel to the defendants Lawal V Jimoh in applying for their bail said that “First Information Report (FIR) no matter how beautifully written cannot take the place of an evident; bail is also guided by Section 169 of the Kwara state Administration of Criminal Justice of 2018.

It means that the defendants are not going to commit the same offence if granted bail and they are not going to jump bail.

They are also responsible people if granted bail; they will not evade court proceedings. Therefore, I am asking for their bail on liberal terms.”

Presiding Chief Magistrate Ahmad Dasuki acceded to the defendants counsel request for bail.
He ordered each of the accused persons to pay a sum of N200, 000 with one surety on grade level six and above working with the Kwara state civil service.

He then adjourned the case to April 2nd for further mention.