A traditional ruler, the Elegbedi of Egbedi in Osun State, Oba Muideen Azeez, has been remanded in custody along with four others for alleged arson, possession of firearms, and malicious damage to farmland in Osun State.
The Osun State High Court ordered their remand until their bail conditions are met.
Prosecuting counsel Abiodun Badiora from the state Ministry of Justice stated that the defendants’ actions violated Sections 402, 403A, 443, 2(1), and 249(1) of the State Criminal Law 2002.
A witness, Mustafa Waheed, testified that Azeez assaulted him when he arrived with Nigerian Police officers to arrest the traditional leader over the destruction of his farm.
After the hearing, the court granted bail to the defendants, setting it at N5 million with two sureties each. The sureties must be civil servants of grade level 16 and own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
Since the defendants were unable to meet the bail conditions, they were seen being transported in a Nigerian Correctional Service vehicle on Thursday afternoon.
