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Convoy Accident Latest: 4 Septuagenarians, Others Docked

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
February 20, 2004
Posted to the web February 20, 2004

By WALE FOLARIN
Osogbo

FOUR septuagenarians, six women, one of who is a nursing mother, were among 32 suspects arraigned yesterday at an Osogbo Chief Magistrate's Court over last Monday's violence on the convoy of the Osun State Deputy Governor, Erelu Olusola Obada.

They were brought before Chief Magistrate Olajumoke Daramola on a five-count charge of rioting, conspiracy, arson, wilful damage of government property and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

But state police command has alleged plan by some unnamed people to torch two police stations on account of the arraignment.

Osogbo, the state capital, was rocked by violence when commercial motorcyclists (Okada) went on rampage following the knock down of one of them by the deputy governor's convoy.

Windscreens of police vehicles were destroyed in the subsequent clash between members of the police and the Okada operators.

Addressing the court, police prosecutor, Mr. A. Mereti, prayed it to remand the suspects in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations into the matter.

Counsel to the suspects, Mr. Jimoh Babale who objected on to the police's request, urged the court to grant his clients bail since the offence allegedly committed was bailable.

Delivering her ruling, Mrs. Daramola disagreed with the police prosecutor's submission that the suspects be remanded in police custody.

She granted the suspects bail of N50,000 each, adjourning the case till March 23, this year.

Earlier, the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Femi Akintemi said the incident which led to the burning of two vehicles in the convoy of the deputy governor was politically motivated.

He alleged that one of the suspects, Mohammed Kabiru was caught removing parts of the burnt government vehicles.

Akintemi, who accused the Okada man who was knocked down by the convoy of overspeeding, also hinted that the man was responding well to treatment at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife.

He denied the allegation that the police used firearms on the mob, saying that the police only fired teargas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

When confronted with information that two men who received gun shots wounds during the riot were identified same day at the Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, the Deputy Commissioner insisted that he was not told of any shooting during the incident.

He warned people against causing breach of public peace, saying "those who are threatening to burn down two police stations should desist from doing so."

The police have already been on alert, he added.

 
 

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