Protest In Osun Over Alleged Plan To Release Suspected Murderers

The Concerned Citizens of Orolu-Kingdom, Ifon-Osun, on Monday, protested the alleged plan to release on bail the suspects in the murder of slain Ifon-Osun indigene Mr Lukman Akorede.

Recall that Late Akorede was gruesomely murdered on the 26th of March, 25, at Ahoro-Afin community in Ifon-Osun, allegedly on the order of the Baale of the community, Mr Tajudeen Oderinde, with his body mutilated.

Following the incident, Mr Oderinde and one Mojeeb Alani were arrested and charged to court.

They were later remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre by Justice A.O Oyebiyi of the Osun State High Court, Osogbo.

But addressing the press on Monday, the group alleged that there is a plan in place to release the murder suspects on bail.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Jamiu Adejumo accused a vacation judge, Justice S.O. Oke, of perfecting the bail of the murder suspects.

According to him, “Some heartless individuals from Ilobu community have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to pervert the course of justice in favour of these ritual murder suspects. Their moment came during the annual vacation of the presiding trial judge, when they shamelessly approached a vacation judge, Justice S.O. Oke, to secretly perfect their evil arrangement.

“It is worth noting that one of the suspects, Mr. Mojeed Alani, was previously arrested for murder in 2023. He had only just been released on bail from Ilesa Correctional Centre, barely a month, when he was involved again in the ritual killing of the late Lukman Akorede.”

Adejumo, while stating that the event has sent shockwaves through the Ifon-Osun community, called on the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, to look into the matter and revoke the bail allegedly granted by Justice Oke.

He also appealed to Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to order an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the granting of bail to the murder suspects.

“We call on Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to order an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the scandalous granting of bail to these serial murder suspects.

“We call on Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo to look into this matter and revoke such erroneous pronouncement.

“We demand that the Osun State judiciary cleanses itself of such erring pronouncements and frivolous judicial compromises a judiciary that releases ritual killers back into society is not a protector of justice but a collaborator with evil.

“We appeal to the global community, international human rights organisations, and civil society groups to monitor this case closely and ensure that justice is not buried in technicalities or corruption,” Adejumo pleaded.

Responding to the allegations that some powerful people in Ilobu are trying to pervert justice, the Ilobu Youth Assembly (IYA), said Ilobu indigenes have no hand in the murder of Mr. Akorede, nor have we interfered in the judicial process.

IYA in a statement signed by Engr. Kolade Onaolapo noted that the Ifon-Osun people were only trying to blackmail the judiciary, attack the Osun state government, mislead the public, and malign the Ilobub-loving community.

Onaolapo said contrary to what Ifon people are saying, the entire conflict in the area allegedly commenced with Ifon-Orolu’s premeditated attack on Ilobu.

The statement said, “Contrary to the falsehoods being peddled by Ifon people, the entire conflict in our area commenced with Ifon-Orolu’s premeditated attack on Ilobu, not the other way round. On that dark day, hundreds of houses belonging to Ilobu indigenes were burnt, scores of our people were brutally killed, and over 100,000 Ilobu citizens were displaced from their ancestral homes.

“In an attempt to cover their tracks, Ifon people resorted to writing frivolous petitions against innocent Ilobu indigenes, seeking to criminalise our people while shielding their own culpability. The present propaganda is simply a continuation of that wicked agenda.

“The attempt to indict the Ilobu community as working ‘tirelessly behind the scenes to pervert the course of justice’ is baseless, false, and wicked. Ilobu indigenes have no hand in the murder of Mr. Lukman Akorede, nor have we interfered in the judicial process.

“Ilobu people were not, and are not, behind this crime. This is a deliberate effort to incite public hatred, criminalise our community, and mobilise the press, the judiciary, and international opinion against us. Such reckless falsehoods only deepen division, threaten peace, and undermine justice. We believe the time for reconciliation should be now but our neighbours are still planning more evil.”

IYA demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr Jamiu Adejumo for contempt of the court.

The group also urged the “Osun State Government under His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to investigate the dangerous propaganda being spread by Ifon community and hold the instigators accountable”.