Osun APC: Caretaker Secretary, ex-party chairman, five others land in court

Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo

The Caretaker Secretary of the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rasaq Salinsile and former Chairman of the party, Revd. Adelowo Adebiyi alongside five party members have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court over alleged assault and conspiracy.

Recall that, on August 14th, political thugs attacked some members of the APC outside the premises of the State party secretariat at Ogo-Oluwa in Osogbo as the party’s Ward Congress Appeal Committee resumed sittings.

Other accused persons arraigned were;  former Commissioner for Works and Transports, Engr. Kazeem Salami, former Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Biyi Odunlade, former Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Idowu Korede, a member of the APC in Ilesa, Alaba Popoola and Azeez Adekunle.

According to the charge sheet, the party chieftains and others at large unlawfully assaulted one Hamzat Lukman Babatunde ‘m’ by hitting him with stones on his head, which caused him harm.

They were also accused of assaulting one Ajetumobi Muldeen ‘m’ by hitting him with parts of broken plastic chairs on his head.

The offence committed was contrary to and punishable under Sections 355, 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. Il laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

The defence counsels, Abdulfatai Abdulsalam and Muftau Adediran applied for the bail of the APC chieftains on self-recognition.

In his ruling, Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, granted bail to Salinsile, Adebiyi, Salami, Odunlade and Korede, on self-recognition in a sum of N5 million each.

The Magistrate also admitted Alaba and Adekunle to bail of N5 million with one surety each, adding that the surety must either be a civil servant or house owner residing within the jurisdiction of the magistrate.

The case was, thereafter, adjourned till September 24th for mention.