A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, Thursday remanded eight members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ilesa Correctional Centre for attempt killing.
The defendants are: Olaniyan Jelili, 53, Awotunde Nureni, 35, Nurudeen Taoheed, 30, Tiamiyu Olamide, 38, Zaccheus Awosogbon, 41, Onikola Adekunle, 46, Rasaki Lawal, 44, and Adebisi Aditu, 45.
They were alleged to have attempted to kill the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi and a chieftain of the party, Akin Adeyi.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants “on the 10th day of February, 2020 at about 4pm at the PDP secretariat Osogbo, did conspire to commit felony to wit attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace and thereby committed an offence.
The charge sheet reads that the defendants “Did unlawfully attempt to kill one Diran Odeyemi by hitting him with sticks on his head which made him unconscious for hours.”
It reads further that the defendants “Did unlawfully assault one Akin Adeyi by hitting him with fist blows and slaps and thereby committed an offence.”
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 320 (1), 355,351 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol 11, law of Osun state, 2002.
They pleaded not guilty to the five count charges bothering on conspiracy, attempt killing and assault preferred against them by the police.
Their counsels, Sina Adeniran and Nurudeen Kareem, urged the court to grant their clients bail, saying they are still presumed to be innocents.
