10 Suspects Arraigned Over Alleged Assassination Plot Against Ondo Monarch

For allegedly attempting to assassinate a accepted ruler, Oba Adeniyi John Adinlewa, the Obaloogun of Igoba Land successful Ondo State, nary less than 10 suspects person been dragged earlier an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The suspects, led by 32-year-old Tolulope Alo, besides known arsenic ‘Asamo’, were arraigned successful the tribunal connected an eight-count complaint involving transgression conspiracy, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, amerciable assembly, breach of nationalist peace, malicious damage, and threats to life.

The different defendants were Seun Bankole (42), Kolawole Kazeem (35), Seriki Lateef (35), Bankole Tobi (25), Sunday Amigun (32), Ayodele Saka (34), Adedayo Ogidan (43), Olaoluwa Kayode (21), and Ezekiel Vincent (26).

The suspects were accused of invading the Igoba assemblage connected Thursday, attacking residents astatine gunpoint, injuring respective people, and looting properties.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the monarch, Oba Adinlewa, escaped unhurt erstwhile the attackers stormed his palace.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Sulaiman Adebayo, told the tribunal that the offences occurred betwixt October 1 and 2, 2025, astatine Aleo and Imolumo communities successful Igoba, wrong the Akure Magisterial District.

According to Adebayo, the accused persons, equipped with single-barrel guns, dagger, charms, and different unsafe weapons, attempted to termination the monarch successful his residence.

The authoritative further added that the radical unlawfully assembled with the intent to instil fearfulness among residents and incite communal struggle against the accepted ruler.

He alleged that the defendants were recovered with 2 cut-to-size tube guns, 3 unrecorded cartridges, 2 expended cartridges, 2 cutlasses, 5 knives, and a bulletproof vest — each without lawful justification.

Additionally, they were accused of destroying a Tecno mobile telephone worthy ₦80,000 and damaging herb crops valued astatine ₦5,000 belonging to 1 Mrs Arowolo Joy.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, interruption Sections 516, 320, 332, 251, 42, and 71 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, and Section 5 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 174, Vol. 4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecutor, however, prayed the tribunal to remand the suspects astatine the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending ineligible proposal from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

But, defence counsel, Femi Emmanuel Emodamori, opposed the remand application, requesting that his clients beryllium allowed to springiness oral grounds nether oath oregon that the lawsuit beryllium adjourned to alteration him to record a counter-affidavit.

He explained that the situation stemmed from a onshore quality betwixt 1 of the defendants and the monarch, and insisted that nary confessional connection had been made by the accused arsenic claimed by the police.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, said the defendants beryllium held successful constabulary custody for 1 time to let their counsel clip to stitchery facts for a counter-affidavit.