An Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday granted bail to two Abeokuta chiefs arraigned by the police as suspects in the murder of a 22-year-old Islamic cleric.
The cleric, Lateef Musa, was killed in Ijaye, Ogun State during a masquerade festival in January.
The chiefs-61-year-old Alapinni of Ijaye, Chief Shittu Adeyemi and the Balogun Oje of Ijaye and Aare Oje of Egbaland, Chief Waidi Babalola, 64-were also charged for conducting a masquerade procession without obtaining permission from the state government.
Magistrate Idowu Olayinka of the Abeokuta Magistrate Court 4 sitting in Isabo granted bail to the chiefs in the sum of N500, 000 each with two credible sureties in like sum.
The magistrate added that the sureties must also possess title documents of landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court and an evidence of tax payments in the last three years to Ogun State Government.
Counsel for the first and second respondents, Adebiyi Ogundeyi, had earlier prayed the court to grant the bail application on the ground that the offence committed by the accused persons was bail able.
Ogundeyi, who cited section 118(3) of the Criminal Procedure Law of Ogun State, argued that unlike the third accused person, the first two accused were only facing trial for their failure to obtain permission from the government before conducting the masquerade procession.
The charge sheet stated that Babalola and Adeyemi were being tried for conducting masquerade procession without lawful authority or permit from the state government, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 3 (a) (b) of the Public Order Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The magistrate adjourned the matter till May 14, 2013 for further hearing.
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