The Yoruba Nation agitators who invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat at Agodi in Ibadan, the state capital, have pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before an Oyo State High Court.
On Wednesday, the agitators were all paraded before Justice K. B. Olawoyin.
The offence was committed on April 13, 2024, in Ibadan, in the Ibadan Judicial Division, an offence contrary to and punishable under section 37(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vo. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The case, with suit number I/51c/2024, which involves the State vs Adeyemo Peter & 26 others, was heard at Fiat Court 3, Ring Road, Ibadan.
All the suspects were brought to court and their pleas were taken.
The suspects are facing trial for invading the Secretariat at Agodi, Ibadan, on April 13, 2024, after allegedly declaring the sovereign Republic of Yoruba Nation.
The defendants (1- 27) facing trial were Adeyemo Peter, Adeyemo Joseph, Amos Oluwaseyi Ogundeji, Ayanwale Rofiat, Olalere Mathew, Ismaila Malomo Peter, Fatoki Anthony, Murittala Abefe, Ismaila Adepoju, Fatunmbi Wasiu, Isaac Friday, Ayanwale Saburi, Adeola Elegbede, Ademola Adeniyi, Ogundeji Alabi, Ojo Olufemi, Ajani Ezekiel, Adejumo Lateef and Ayoola David.
Others were Adesokan Hameed, Adesokan Hameed, Abiona Esther, Omoyajowo Funsho, Tola Olufemi, Oritola Alabi, Kayode Fakeye and Taiwo Titilayo.
Adejumo Lateef, who was the 18th defendant, was pronounced dead at their first appearance.
The suspects were arraigned on five counts of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful assembly, treasonable felony and treason.
The case is being prosecuted by the state government team led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr S. O Adeoye, O. R. Yussuf (Deputy DPP), O. S Tella (DDPP) and three Senior State counsel, including S. A. Osuolale, Isa Busari and O. A Bolarinwa.
While S.A Sanni appeared for the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th and 13th defendants, Adebola Ogungbe appeared for the third, fourth, 22nd defendants, Yomi Ogunlola represented 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 25th and 26th defendants and O. A Adeleke appeared for 23rd defendant.
During the proceeding, the state prosecutor told the court of its application before it.
The state is seeking to remove the name of the late defendant from the list, change a name that was listed twice and also include a name that was not listed.
The application was not opposed by any of the defendant’s counsel. The prosecution was moved in terms and the application was granted by the court.
One of the defence counsel, Ogunlola, told the court of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain some counts of the criminal charges, noting that the state government needed the fiat of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute those counts, especially the one that deals with treason.
He said, “The offences are federal offences, especially the one that deals with treason and not within the jurisdiction of the court, in pursuance of Section 37, Criminal Code Law of Oyo State, 2000, thus giving a notice of preliminary objection to the suit.”
The court, however, said the objection could not stop the scheduled arraignment, asking if other counsel were ready for the arraignment.
All the counsel answered in the affirmative.
As the proceeding began, the counts were read and interpreted to the defendants in Yoruba language and each of the accused persons (defendants) individually pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
After the arraignment, the prosecution prayed to the court for an adjournment to react to the notice of preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court, to which all the defendants’ counsel did not object.
Ruling, Justice Olawoyin adjourned the case till November 13, 2024, for hearing of the notice of preliminary objections as filed by Ogunlola, one of the counsel for the defendants.