Ondo family seeks IG’s protection from breadwinner’s killer
Ondo family seeks IG’s protection from breadwinner’s killer
The family of one late Ayodele Bosede on Wednesday called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to revisit the murder case of the deceased who was allegedly killed by a suspected cultist in Owo, Ondo State.
Bosede was alleged to have been killed by the cultist popularly known as Imole in the ancient town in 2022. The suspected killer was said to have been arrested by the police and immediately charged to court.
Imole was arraigned before the state Chief Magistrate Court on a three-count charge concerning murder.
The charge sheet read, “That you Sulaiman Ayuba Imole ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did parade yourself to be Eiye Secret Cult member and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 1(1) of the Cultism, Secret Cult and similar activities (Prohibited) Act Cap. 39 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo of Nigeria 2006.
“That you Sulaiman Ayah Imole ‘m’ and others at large between 25/5/2022 and 24/2/2023 at about 1500hrs at Owo within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire together to commit felony to wit: Murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism and thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable Section 6 (a) & (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap. R11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you Sulaiman Ayuba Imole ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, while armed with guns, cutlasses did kill a driver named one Abubakar Zakari ‘m’ and one Nigeria Army CPL Saidu Baba and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.”
The Chief Magistrate A.O Adedapo did not take the plea of the accused and ordered the defendant to be remanded while he adjourned the case till when the Department of Public Prosecution of the state Ministry of Justice would file its legal advice before the court.
However, the family disclosed that the DPP in its report filed a no case to answer to all the charges preferred against the defendant and had been set free by the court recently.
Following the development, the family has expressed fear that the suspect might come back to attack its members since he had now been set free.
The widow of the deceased, Iyabo said the release of the suspected cultist by the DPP had led to panic among family members and friends who feared reprisal attack by the freed suspect.
Iyabo said, “Since the suspect has been released by the government, he has been threatening to deal with those behind his detention. That is why we are calling on the Inspector General of Police to rearrest the suspect to answer to the charges of killing the breadwinner of the family.”
She added that the children and dependants of the deceased have been suffering as a result of his death, describing the late husband as the breadwinner of the family.
