Ondo 2020: Court grants bail to 7 ZLP supporters over trump up charges
An Akure Chief magistrate court sitting in Akure, has granted bail to seven supporters of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) arrested at Idanre local government area of Ondo state after trumped up charges by the Rotimi Akeredolu government.
Chief Magistrate Folashade Aduroja admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of 2 million naira each and sureties in like sum with landed properties within the court jurisdiction.
Starnews Nigeria reports that the suspects identified as Adeola Taiwo ,Ayoola Ayodeji, Ogunmolu Folajimi, Oluwasola Ojo,Eddy Michael,Agwu Dickson and Akinboni Folashade were arrested by agents of state government at Alade Idanre
They were however docked on a 7 count charge including unlawful possession of locally made barrel guns at Alade Idanre.
The state counsel, Hellen Falowo prayed for their remand at the Olokuta facility of the Nigerian correctional service but defense counsel Banjo Ayenakin and Adelanke Akinrata opposed the application.
They described the allegations as frivolous, spurious and prayed the court to grant their client bail pending the issuance of legal advice from the office of the DPP.
They argued that the application is incompetent by virtue of section 270 (1) of the ACJL, no exhibits were attached to the application which links the defendants to the offence and there is no reasonable suspicion against the defendants.
They further contended that there are no necessary judicial processes upon which the court can rely upon to remand the defendants.
The case has been adjourned till 21st of October, 2020 for further hearing.
It would be recalled that the state government also recently arraigned at the magistrate court in Akure and secured their remand at Olokuta, 7 OPC members at Ifon, Stephen Odalumen, Adesina Tope, rotimi johnbull, Sylvester Emmanuel, Adenegan Ifatunde, Adeleke Sunday and Wilson Issac based in Ifon, Ose local government area.
They were allegedly arrested in a branded bus belonging to the peoples democratic party governorship candidates, Eyitayo Jegede with arms and ammunition
