An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun State yesterday ordered the remand of nine suspects, all students of Obafemi Awolowo University for allegedly beating a colleague, Okoli Ahize to death on grounds of stealing phone.
The police prosecutor, Asp Emmanuel Abdullahi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence around 8:00 pm on April 10 at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
He gave the names of the suspects as: Badiora Timilehin, 22; Adegoke Francis, 23; Atilade Adeniyi, 22; Adeyeni Ajibola, 22; Olayiwola Adewumi 21; Adisa Olamilekan, 24; Igbinyemi Amos, 22; Osode Joshua, 23 and Philip Kayode, 24.
The prosecutor said that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit offences to wit: Murder.
He told the court that the defendants and others now at large unlawfully beat Ahize, a final year student death with sticks, stones, and iron rods.
According to him, the offence contravened Sections 319 and 324 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.
The pleas of the defendants were not taken on two-count charge of conspiracy and murder, though Messrs Olamide Oladunni and A.R. Abdullateef announced their appearances for them.
The Magistrate, Kike Adebayo, asked the prosecutor to duplicate their case files to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
Adebayo ordered that the defendants be remanded at Ile-Ife Nigerian Correctional Service.
The case was adjourned until June 9, for mention.
