Nigeria Content Online

There were
indications yesterday that the Oyo State Police command has shelved the
plan to declared Lateef Akinsola Oluwatoki (aka Tokyo) wanted, even as
he failed to show up at the state police headquarters on Monday.

The state
Commissioner of Police, Baba Adisa Bolanta, had told journalists last
Friday that he had invited both Tokyo and Lateef Salako (aka Eleweomo)
for interrogation over the violence that led to the death of three
persons and destruction of valuables, including vehicles, at the state
secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in
Ibadan early on Wednesday last week. The two men are leaders of the two
factions of the union involved in the said fight.

Mr Bolanta, at the
press conference, threatened to declare wanted either of the two
leaders who failed to honour the invitation yesterday, and deploy the
necessary police fiat to effect their arrests.

Despite the threat,
only Eleweomo showed up at the command headquarters on Monday, while
Tokyo was represented by his counsel, Adeleke Bakare, who took excuse
from the command that his client could not come because he was
indisposed and was at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja where he was
receiving treatment.

After spending some
minutes at the commissioner’s office, Eleweomo was asked to go and give
his statement at the office of the state’s Criminal Investigation
Department (CID), Iyaganku, Ibadan.

On account of Mr
Akinsola’s (Tokyo) illness, Mr Bolanta told journalists in Ibadan
yesterday that the command would not be declaring him wanted any moment
soon, despite his failure to honour the invitation, since his lawyer
had represented him, which was taken as him being there physically. He
added that an understanding was reached with the lawyer to get back to
the command on today, on the state of his client’s health and the time
he would be honouring the invitation.

The command’s
spokesperson, Olabisi Okuwobi, said that during his brief stay at the
commissioner’s office, Mr Salako was advised to ensure that he cautions
his followers against engaging in any act that could negatively affect
the peace of the state.

Suspects arraigned

Meanwhile, 10
suspects paraded at the state’s police headquarters on Friday for
alleged involvement in last week’s disturbance, were brought to court
on Monday.

They were arraigned
before the Chief Magistrate, Shakratu Badrudeen, on a five-count charge
of felony, illegal possession of arms, attempted arson and public
disturbances.

The accused persons
are Hassan Fakorede (45), Ismaila Raheem (30), Mojeed Amsat, (32), Akem
Balogun (27), Sumoila Idowu (25), Abideen Oladimeji (25) Lukumon
Adebayo (35), Sunday Adeleke (30), Sefiu Ramon (23) and Azeez Sakiru
(25).

The prosecuting
officer, Mathew Olubuse, told the court that the accused persons, on
the said date, conspired to commit felony, disturb public peace, were
in illegal possession of arms and attempted to commit arson. Counsel to
the accused, Adeleke Bakare, prayed the court to grant them bail,
arguing that they still remained innocent of the charges until they are
convicted by the competent court.

But Mr Olubuse
opposed the bail application, saying granting it might spark off more
violence in the Ibadan metropolis which, he said, is now enjoying a
modicum of peace after they were arrested.

While granting them
bail, the magistrate, said though the offence attracts 14 years in jail
if the accused are convicted, it still remains a bailable offense.

She granted all of
them bail of N10,000 with two sureties each. She said one of the
sureties must present a C of O of a landed property, and adjourned the
case till October 15, 2010, for hearing.