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Chief Magistrate Oladele Adisa of the Oyo State Magistrate Court sitting in Ibadan on Wednesday remanded 17 people in prison over allegations of masterminding the January 1 arson and looting attack in shops and houses in Idi Arere area the city.
The 17 people who were arrested by the police folowing the incident were docked on a three-count charge of conspiracy, arson and stealing.
The suspects include two women, four minors and 11 men. They are identified as 38 years old Adesola Bukola, 37 years old Ayobami Osuolale, 21-year-old Olayode Lateef, 21-year-old Farouk Adedolapo, 16-year-old Samson Ayomide, 20-year-old Dada Kayode, 25-year-old Taye Popoola and 20-year-old Kudus Ibrahim.
Others are 19-year-old Olatunji Samuel, 14-year-old Adewale Malik, 25-year-old Sakura Adegoke, 24-year-old Toheeb Abiodun, 25-year-old Sunmonu Kudus, 24-year-old Azeez Salau, 15-year-old Akande Saheed, 19-year-old Ojekunle Lekan and 19-year-old Sadiq Tirimisiyu.
The prosecutor, Mrs Bola Oloko told the court that the defendants and others now at large conspired among themselves to commit arson and stealing by unlawfully setting fire to houses and shops valued at N40 million.
She said they also made away with victims’ valuables including plasma television sets, tailoring materials, phones and other properties, all worth up to N25million.
According to Oloko, the offences are contrary to and punishable under Section 516, 443 and 383 and Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
Chief Magistrate Adisa in his ruling ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody and ordered that the four juveniles among them be re-arraigned before the juvenile court and remanded in the remand home .
He adjourned the case till March 8, 2019 for legal advice from Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).