The police in Ondo State yesterday arraigned five suspects over the lynching of a 25-year-old driver, Temitope Olorunfemi, before a chief magistrates’ court in Akure, the state capital.
The suspects are Victor Amos, 30; Boboye Ismalia, 32; Pelumi Farotimi, 42; Nurudeen Kumuyi, 22 and Samuel Olatunji, 23.
Olorunfemi was killed by a mob on Easter Monday after he reportedly crushed two people to death with his Toyota Camry vehicle in the Ijoka Area of Akure.
They are facing three counts of felony, unlawful murder and arson in a charge sheet marked as No. MAK/136c/2023.
The police prosecutor, Mr Nelson Akintimehin, told the court that the five defendants and others at large conspired to commit the felony and unlawful murder of Olorunfemi.
He added that they murdered Olorunfemi, whom they wrongly accused of being an internet fraudster otherwise known as “Yahoo boy,” in cold blood with sticks, stones and other offensive weapons.
He said the defendants also maliciously damaged one Toyota Camry vehicle marked KRD 627 GY by setting it ablaze.
He noted that their offence contravened sections 324, 316(1) and 451(6)(J) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37 Vol. 2 Laws of Ondo State.
He prayed that the court remands them at the Nigerian Correctional Service in Olokuta, pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
However, the court did not take the pleas of the accused persons.
The defence counsel, O. Agbede, pleaded with the court to adjourn the case to enable him to file a counter affidavit to the application sought by the prosecutor.
In his ruling, Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus, granted the requests and adjourned the case till April 27.
He ordered that the defendants be remanded in police custody.
