The Baale of Jangede village in the Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, High chief Adenekan Olanrewaju, was on Thursday arraigned before a state Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Abeokuta for alleged stealing, abduction and attempted rape.
Adenekan was also accused of stealing the sum of N.3m belonging to one Soleye Sotande under the pretense of selling two plots of land to him at Jangede village.
In the charge sheet read before Chief Magistrate O.A Sofowora, the police Prosecutor, Inspector Sunday Ehiagbejiale, informed the court that the accused abducted a 15-year-old girl, identified as Abosede to aHOTEL
at Jangede village and attempted to rape her before her miraculous escape.
The police prosecutor said further that the Baale also forcefully trespassed into two plots of land in the village owned by one Oluremi Okanlawon and another half plot of land belonging to Adeoye Gbemisola and thereby committed an offense punishable under the laws.
The Baale was also accused of having conspired with others now at large, to conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by threatening to kill the duo of Okanlawon, Gbemisola and four other persons who bought land from him should they enter the village again.
According to Ehiagbejiale, the offenses are punishable under Sections: 86, 249, 359, 361, 390(sub. sec. 9), 419, 451 among others of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun state of Nigeria 2006.
But Bunmi Adelabu, counsel to the accused, prayed the court to grant the Baale bail on the ground that none of the charges carries a death penalty, and also premised his prayer on the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution which presumes an accused person innocent until proven guilty.
“As a respectable Baale, appointed by the Alake of Egbaland, with no fewer than 15 villages under him, my client will not jump bail, he is not a miscreant. Aside from this, the bail will also afford him the opportunity to prepare for this matter very well,” Adelabu said.
Ruling on the bail applications, however, Chief Magistrate Sofowora granted the accused a bail to the sum of N250, 000:00k with two sureties in the like sum.
The case is adjourned till 24th October