Terrorism: Market leader, 6 others’ trial stalled

The scheduled arraignment of the leader of Aswani International Market, Chief Taoreed Farounbi alias Baba Alado, and six other persons before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged terrorist acts was on Monday stalled due to the inability of the prosecution to serve the charge sheet on the accused.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had dragged Chief Taoreed Farounbi, alongside Alhaji Olusegun Akeem Akinde alias Echo, Mr. Ayokunle Fakiyesi, Mr. Idowu Akinde, Musilu Oladejo, Mr. Lekan Matthew and Mr. Adeleke Akinjeji before Justice Sule Hassan on a three-count charge of conspiracy to wit terrorism.

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The AGF in a charge: FHC/L/279c/2020, alleged that Baba Alado and the others on March 19, 2020, conspired and participated in terrorist acts which led to the killing of two men, Debo Olohunyo and Chibuzor Daniel, at the White Sand area of Isheri-Osun, Lagos State.

They were also accused of causing an attack which led to destruction of property in the area.

The offences according to the AGF are contrary to Section 1(2) (a) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011.

However, at the resumed arraignment of the accused yesterday, only one of them, Lekan Lateef, was in court.

The prosecutor, A. K. Alilu, told the court that Baba Alado and five others could not be located since they were granted administrative bail by the police.

The prosecutor, therefore, asked the court for summons against the defendants to appear for their trial, and also prayed the court to serve the charge sheets on the defendants through their counsel.

The counsel to the defendants, Mr. M.B. Jimoh-Akogun, said that in the ruling of the court the case was adjourned to December 6, 2020, and that the defendants were of the notion that the date remained sacrosanct.

In his ruling, Justice Hassan ordered that the charge sheet be served on the defendants’ lawyers and ordered the sixth defendant, Lekan Matthew, who was in court, to be remanded, and adjourned the case to January 28, 2021.