The Osun State Police Command on Wednesday paraded a set of twins, Taiwo and Kehinde Adeleke, and seven other suspects arrested in different parts of the state for offences ranging from cultism to murder and robbery.
Parading the suspects before journalists at the state police command headquarters in Osogbo, the state capital, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said the 23-year-old twins, one Ojo Ayobami, Ibrahim Qudus, and Ojo Oretu were arrested in Esa Oke, following the killing of Abiodun Apalara during a rival cult clash.
Opalola explained that around 2pm on April 27, 2023, there was a fracas among some hoodlums suspected to be cultists in Esa-Oke which led to the death of Apalara.
He said a police team from the Special Anti-Cultism Unit swung into action and subsequently, the leader of the gang, Qudus, and four other suspects were arrested.
“Investigation revealed that the late Abiodun Apalara was a member of Alora Confraternity also known as Buccaneer Confraternity and was killed by some armed hoodlums suspected to be members of Black Axe Confraternity also known as Aiye Confraternity led by Qudus. They will be charged to court after the completion of the investigation,” she added
The police spokesperson said the remaining suspects, Mojeed Olanrewaju, Ahmed Jelili, Azeez Tunde and Bakare Saliu, are members of a syndicate that specialises in stealing motorcycles within the Osogbo metropolis.
She added, “Investigation revealed that the first three suspects are ex-convicts. The first suspect served his jail term in Ile-Ife Correctional Centre while the second and third suspects served their jail terms in Ilesa Correctional Centre.
“Upon their release in 2021 and 2022 respectively, they re-strategised and continued with their nefarious acts before nemesis caught up with them.
“The fourth suspect, who is a mechanic, is one of the receivers of the stolen motorcycles. After buying the stolen motorcycles, he will re-assemble them before reselling them to his unsuspecting customers.”
Osun State High Court has found the popular hotel owner, Dr Ramon Adedoyin guilty in the murder case of Timothy Adegoke, a former master’s degree student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, whose death occurred between November 5 and 7, 2021, at Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife.
The Osun Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, while delivering her judgement on the case, held that the circumstantial evidence available to the court, pointed to the killing of Adegoke while being a guest at the hotel owned by Adedoyin.
According to her, Adedoyin’s decision not to enter the witness box did not help him, as the circumstantial evidence had shifted the burden of proof on him.
Justice Ojo also said Adedoyin’s decision not to enter the witness box meant he agreed to the murder charge pressed against him by the prosecution, dismissing the alibi pleaded on his behalf by his counsel, who said the hotel owner was in Abuja for many days around the time the death of the late Adegoke occurred.
Unidentified gunmen on Saturday night attacked Gure and Boriya communities in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The gunmen invaded the two communities, shooting sporadically and throwing the people into confusion, DAILY POST learnt.
Though no casualties were recorded, military personnel have been deployed to the troubled areas.
Reacting to the development on Sunday, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danlasi-Salihu, condemned the attacks, saying the government would do everything possible to avert the reoccurrence of the unfortunate incident.
The Speaker, who represents Ilesha/Gwanara state constituency, said on Sunday: “My heart is heavy in the wake of recent attacks that have occurred in some of our communities. We understand the pain and suffering that these attacks have caused the affected individuals and families, and we want to assure you that the government is taking prompt action to avert any future occurrences.
“We also condemn these attacks in the strongest terms possible, and we assure you that, as representatives, we are doing everything within our power to ensure that those responsible for these attacks are apprehended and brought to justice because we understand the importance of ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.
“We will not rest until we have put in place measures that will prevent any future occurrences of such attacks
The governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, has alleged that the chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, begged him for $2million.
On Wednesday, Matawalle asked Bawa to ensure that the EFCC’s probe didn’t only target outgoing governors, but also presidency officials.
Reacting to Matawalle’s comments, the EFCC insisted that it was probing the governor for allegedly diverting N70billion meant for contracts in the state.
But speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, Matawalle claimed he is being investigated because he “didn’t offer the EFCC chairperson the money he requested from him”.
He said: “I am not resisting being probed. I’m still the governor and have immunity, no one has invited me.
“The EFCC said they were investigating me? It was when I spoke that they made allegations against me.
“He (Bawa) knows what he begged me to give him which I didn’t.
“The allegations against me are lies. He begged me to give him two million dollars. There is a house where I met him and he knows it, where he told me that he wants to see me