OLAKUNRIN’S MURDER: Police arraign four suspects

Ondo Police Command and the state government on Friday arraigned four suspects over the murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrin.

Olakunrin, daughter to a leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, was attacked and killed by gunmen on July 12, 2019 between Kajola and Ore along Ondo-Ore Road in Ondo State.

Police recently announced the arrest of four persons over the murder. They suspects are Lawal Mazaje from the Felele area of Kogi State, Adamu Adamu from Jada area of Adamawa State, Mohammed Usman from Illela area of Sokoto State, and Auwal Abubakar from Shinkafi area of Zamfara State.

On Friday they were arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital by the state police command and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adekola Olawoye.

Charges levelled against the suspects partly read:

“That Mohammed Shehu Is an, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu, and Awalu Abubakar and others now at large on or before the 12th day of July 2019 at about 0900hrs at Tollgate along Ore/ljebu Ode Expressway, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire together to commit felony to wit: Murder and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 Of Criminal Code, Cap 37; Vol. I, Laws of Ondo State 2006.

“That Mohammed Shehu Is an, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu, and Awalu Abubakar and others now at large on or before the 12th day of July 2019 at about 0900hrs st Tollgate along Ore/Ijebu Ode Expressway, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did murder one Olufunke Olakunrin (Nee Fasoranti) ‘f’ aged 58-year contrary to and punishable under Section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That Mohammed Shehu Is an, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu, and Awalu Abubakar and others now at large on or before the 12‘“ day of July 2019 at about 0900hrs at Tollgate along Ore/ljebu Ode Expressway, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did murder one Ogunbiyi Matthew ‘m’ aged 65-year contrary to and punishable under Section 316 of the Criminal code, Cap36, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you Mohammed Shehu, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu, and Awalu Abubakar and others now at large on or before the 12th day of July 2019 at Honorable Court did kidnap one Gerald Igboayaka and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(ii) (b) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.”

The four suspects did not have representation. They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges after they were read out to them.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kola Olawoye, who represented the state in court, announced the readiness of the state to take over the case.He prayed the court to remand the four defendants in the Correctional facility in Owo, as the correctional facility in Akure, the state capital has been overstretched. He also prayed the court to allow the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to conduct COVID-19 test on the defendants before moving them to Owo correctional center.

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The presiding Magistrate, Victoria Bob-Manuel, ordered the suspects to be remanded at Owo correctional centre after their samples must have been taken for testing by NCDC.

The magistrate, who noted that the court lackes the jurisdiction and power to try the defendants adjourned to June 3rd for the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution.

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