Eight people suspected of involvement in the rape and murder of a 24-year-old University of Ilorin student, Olajide Blessing Omowumi, have been arraigned on Tuesday and denied bail.
The arraignment stalled last Wednesday after three of the suspects failed to produce legal representation.
- Soyinka to Buhari: Set up Govt of National Unity
- How bandits abducted 140 students from Kaduna school
They are charged on 11 counts bordering armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms and rape amongst others.
The prime suspects, Abdulazeez Ismail, Ajala Moses Oluwatimileyin and Oyeyemi Timileyin Omogbolahan and their accomplices, Abdulkarim Shuaib, Kareem Oshioyemi Rasheed, Abdullateef Abdulrahman, Daud Bashir Adebayo and Akande Taiye Oladoja were all in court under heavy security mounted by the DSS.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The lead prosecution counsel and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo, filed an application to call additional three witnesses and evidence which was granted by the court.
The seventh accused, charged with aiding and abetting and receiving property and product of armed robbery, also filed an application for bail, which was heard and dismissed.
The case was adjourned till Wednesday for hearing.
According to the court presided over by Justice Ibrahim Yusuf, the case will be heard trial within trial (day-to-day) to speed up the process.
Speaking with journalists after the court proceedings, counsel to the seventh accused person, Barrister Sikiru Solagberu, explained that, “The application I filed is for the court to grant my own client bail pending the hearing determination of the case.
“We believe that the court can allow the defendant to sought for mercy as they have been in custody for the past one month now,” he added.
