4 Men Remanded For 60 Days Over Alleged Land Grabbing, Attempted Murder

4 Men Remanded For 60 Days Over Alleged Land Grabbing, Attempted Murder

An Otta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ogun State, today, ordered the remand of four men in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), over alleged conspiracy, land grabbing, possession of arms, unlawful invasion and attempted murder.

The four men ordered to be remanded by Magistrate S. S. Sotayo are: Tajudeen Shodiya; Femi Oguntoyinbo; Adeniran Ishola and Tunde Odunbaro.

Magistrate Sotayo ordered the remand of the four men after listened to the application for their remand filed and argued by Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a Legal Officer at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In urging the court to remand the four men, Animashaun told the court that the application was pursuant to Section 36(7) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Law of Ogun State, 2017 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Court.

He also told the court that the remand application against the four men is to enable the State Director for Public Prosecution (DPP) issued a legal advice on the allegations of conspiracy, attempted murder and malicious damage to Properties and forceful takeover of landed properties which have been established against them.

The four men according to an affidavit deposed to by Inspector Olugbenga Daniel but argued by Barrister Animashaun, have on August 27, 2020, conspired among themselves and others at large with the aid of some men in military uniforms, invaded a community called Adekoyeni village via Atan, Ota Ogun State, at about 14:30 hours in a commando style and started firing sporadically, chased and forcefully and violently took over the entire Adekoyeni village.

The deponent averred that the four men and other at large, during the unlawful  invasion of Adekoyeni Village, shot one Ibrahim Shittu on the chest and abdomen region of the body and caused him grievous and serious injuries. Adding that the said Ibrahim Shittu, is currently between life and death at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta Ogun State, where is being hospitalized. 

Animashaun, upon moving the application, urged the court to grant it, as of will be in the interest of justice.

However, counsel to the four men, who include; F. S. Duad, the first and second respondents and  U.O Micheal, for third and fourth respondents, urged the court to grant their clients bail pending the issuance of the legal advice by the DPP. The applications were vehemently opposed by the ForceCID’s legal officer.

In his ruling, Magistrate Sotayo, discountenanced the bail application and ordered that the four men be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services for 60 days, while adjourned the matter till December 4, 2020.

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