Osun court remands cultist for alleged murder, arson

By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital, has remanded a 29-year-old man, Hammed Rasheed popularly known as Rashidi Oko-Ilu in the Correctional Centre for alleged murder.

On Wednesday, Rasheed was brought before the court by the Osun Police Command on a nine-count charge bordering on murder, arson, wilful damage and being member of unlawful society and unlawful shooting of police inspector among other allegations slammed against him.

The Magistrate, O. A. Ayilara who gave the order said the accused to be kept behind the bar due to magnitude of his offences. The plea of the accused was not taken.

According to charge obtained in the court, Rasheed who had earlier wanted by the police before he was arrested in his hideout in Osogbo on Sunday had between 13th day of February 2020 and 7th day of August 2022 at Ede, Osun State, did conspire to commit a felony to wit: Murder.

“That you Hammed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, between 13th day of February 2020 and 7th day of August 2022 at Ede, Osun State in the Ede Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Murder and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

“That you Hammed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Hassan Adedeji ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“That you Hammed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Idowu ‘m’ (a.k.a Delta) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“That you Hammed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did with intent to kill, unlawfully shot one Inspector Gbenga Eke ‘m’ with a gun and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 320 of the Criminal Code Cap. 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.

“That you Hammed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: Arson, Wilful Damage and being members of unlawful society and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

“That you Hammed  Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully set on fire a dwelling house, a car and motorcycles belonging to one Kolade Jelili ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 443 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria.

“That you Hammed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully set on fire a dwelling house, one Toyota Corolla car and ten motorcycles property of one Olayiwole Wakeel ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 443 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

“That you Hammed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did engage yourselves in unlawful society known as Elye Confraternity a secret cult and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 64 of the Criminal Code cap. 34 Vol.Il Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

“That you Hameed Rasheed ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time, place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully have in your possession two locally made guns and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 3(1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap RII Vol 14 laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Magistrate Ayilara ordered the remand of the suspect just as he adjourned the case till October 7, 2022.