An Osogbo Magistrate’s court in Osun State, yesterday, ordered the remand of six men at Ilesa Correctional Centre for allegedly killing a 35-year-old man, Ayoade Fasesan, and dismembering his remains.
They are 40-year-old Ifaseun Afolabi; Ifadare Afolabi, 38, Badmus Shakiru, 29; Adeleke Kabiru, 38; Oloyede Maruf, 39, and Oseni Mukaila, 32.
Police prosecutor, ASP John Idoko, informed the court that Ifaseun and Ifadare, said to be herbalists, and others now at large, conspired and murdered Fasesan on May 24 at about 9:30p.m. in Ikirun, Osun State.
Idoko said the duo and four other defendants conspired at the same time and place and tampered with the corpse of Fasesan by cutting his head and other parts into pieces. He explained that the six defendants unlawfully had in their possession human parts.
He argued that the defendants committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 324, 319(1), 517, 242 and 329A of the Criminal Code, Cap 34 Vol. II, laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
The police arraigned the accused on a six-count charge. The court did not take the plea of Ifaseun and Ifadare on the first and second counts bothering on murder because it lacks jurisdiction to entertain it. But the duo and four other defendants pleaded not guilty to the third, fourth and fifth counts of indecent interference with the corpse of Fasesan, cutting its head and other parts into pieces and unlawful possession of human parts.
Defence counsel for Shakiru, Kabiru, Maruf, and Mukaila, Chief A. O. Olodo, Taiwo Awokunle and Olugbenga Awoyemi, applied for their bail and argued that their offences were available.
Barrister K. Adepoju, appeared for Ifaseun and Ifadare. Police prosecutor opposed their bail applications on the ground that killings and other crimes were rampant in the state and that the punishments the offences carry would force the defendants to escape if granted bail.
Magistrate O. A. Daramola ordered that all the defendants be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre pending their re-arraignment at Ikirun Magistrate’s court on August 18.
Also, the Magistrate ordered the prosecution to forward the case file of Ifaseun and Ifadare to the Department of Public Prosecution for legal advice.
