A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state capital, Monday, ordered the remand of three members of Oodua People Congress (OPC), Bakare Banke, 35, Oluwafemi Olaoye, 40, and Adeyinka Simiyu, for alleged assault.
The prosecutor, Olayiwola Rasak, told the court that the defendants and one other now at large, committed the alleged offence on March 12, 2020 at about 5:00pm till 6:00am at Ori-eru area, Oke-baale, Osogbo.
He alleged that the defendants did tie one Adeniyi Nurudeen with rope and beat him up without any justification, which resulted to an open injury he sustained in his body.
He further alleged that the defendants did maliciously damage jean trouser and shirt valued N6, 000 property of their victim.
The Investigative Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case, Mr Isaac Oke, told the court that the complainant went to drink palm wine at a shop where a phone was missing and he was accused of stealing the missing phone.
He said the owner of the shop went to report to some OPC members who allegedly arrested Oke.
The complainant told the court that they took him to their office and brutalised him by using cutlass to inflict serious injuries on him and also tore his clothes.
He added that after causing injuries on his body, they also spray pepper on the injuries surface and he was tied down during the process for a whole day.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to three counts charges of conspiracy, assault and malicious damage leveled against them by the police
The alleged offences were contrary to and punishment under section 516, 355 and 451 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol ll, law of Osun state, 2002.
Their counsel, Mr. Okobe Nagite, urged the court to grant them bail pending the determination of the case.
But the prosecutor opposed the bail application of the defense counsel, saying granting them bail may jeopardize the course of justice and prevent the police from arresting others at large.
Magistrate Adijat Oloyade thereby ordered the remand of the defendants in Ilesa Correctional center and adjourned the matter to April 13, 2020 for hearing of bail application.
