The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, presided over by Justice Umar Zikir, has set July 30, 2024, as the date for the formal arraignment of 14 people accused of killing Oba Aremu Olusegun Cole, the Onikoro of Koro town in Kwara State’s Ekiti Local Government Area, in February 2024.
The accused were also accused of kidnapping the late retired senior military officer’s wife, Olori Iyabo Aremu Cole, and two others during an attack.
The defendants were charged in the State High Court with three counts of conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide.
The accused include Godwin Jacob, Olofela Oyebanji, Adefolalu Ayodele, Tewasie Francis, Babatunde Samuel, Godwin Joseph, Issa Mumee, Miracle Solomon, Abraham Kehinde, Muhammed Bello, Muhammed Muhammed, Ahmadu Umaru, Muhammed Dankai, and Saliu Murtala, among others.
According to the accusations filed in court by the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Muhammed Akande, the suspects were accused of causing Oba Cole’s murder and kidnapping his wife.
The allegations claimed that the accused requested a ransom of N100 million for the release of the kidnapped victims, but only N12 million was paid.
In his statement, Akande informed the court that the charges against the defendants are capital in nature, necessitating legal representation.
He stated that the public defender’s office will volunteer to provide legal services to anyone in need.
The trial judge, Justice Umar Zikir, upheld the first bail granted to two of the accused and ordered that the remaining accused be remanded at a correctional facility until the adjourned date.