The Ekiti State Government has asked the state police command to rearrest and prosecute two members of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Kehinde Boluwade and Hon. Sehinde Ogunrinde; the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Chief Jide Awe; and the former Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress in the state, Prince Adeniyi Adedipe, for their alleged involvement in some criminal related matters in the state.
The request was contained in a letter to the police by the state government.
The letter was entitled: “Request for re-arrest and prosecution of suspects discharged through nolle prosequi by the immediate past administration in the state.”
It was from the Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Ekiti State, with reference no MJ-AD-792-54 dated October 24, 2014 and addressed to the state police commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu.
In the letter, the government requested the police to re-open the cases involved by each of the suspects.
The letter was signed by a Director in the department, A. O. Familoni.
It may be recalled that the former Attorney General in the state, Wale Fapohunda, had pursuant to powers vested by Section 211 (1) (C) of the 1999 Constitution entered nulle prosequi (or notice of discontinuance) to most of the criminally-related cases involving members of the APC in the state.
According to the charge paper, No HCE-IC-2013, in the case of State Vs Hon. Boluwaji Kehinde, and others, it was a case of conspiracy to kill, attempted murder and murder at Emure Ekiti on November 3, 2013.
A breakaway faction of the APC called Bibire Coalition had gathered on the fateful day at Isale Odo, Emure to hold a meeting when armed men invaded the venue of the meeting and allegedly shot at those at the meeting.
In the process, one Foluso Ogundare died from gunshots injuries.
The lawmaker was arrested as one of the suspects, while Ogunrinde was arrested for a case of arson and assault at Isinbode Ekiti in the wake of the gubernatorial election and was subsequently charged to court, but was equally discharged based on the notice of discontinuance entered by the Attorney General of the state.
In the case of Awe, it has to do with the case of malicious damage to properties, conspiracy to kill and attempted murder and murder at Erinjiyan Ekiti on March 30, 2013 when a gang of armed men invaded the residences of one Chief Boluwaji Adewumi and Gabriel Ojo.
The gang was said to have fired gunshots, which resulted in the death of one Ayodeji Jeje and Madam Juliana Adewumi.
The attack, according to the petition, was allegedly in a bid to stop the defection of one Segun Adewumi of the then Action Congress of Nigeria to the Peoples Democratic Party, which was to take place March 31, 2013.
Others to be arrested include Faboro John Ojo, Aniramu Bashiru, Falayi Busuyi, Owonifari Sefiu, Babalola Olomi and Olawumi Victor Fagboriola.
Others are Apolola Richard, Owoju Dele, Adeniyi Adedipe and Adesokan Adedeji, aka Jaruu, among others.
The letter read further: “The Attorney General of Ekiti State entered a nolle prosequi in the pending charge against the suspects at the Magistrate Court.
“Consequently, the suspects were discharged and were not allowed to face trial for the offences they allegedly committed.
“Following the termination of the cases, government has been inundated with protests and petitions by the victims and other affected persons, requesting for the cases to be re-opened and prosecuted to conclusion in the interest of justice
“The circumstances surrounding the abrupt termination of the criminal cases have been critically examined by government and found unsatisfactory.
“Consequently, in view of the above, we wish to request that you use your good offices to facilitate the re-arrest of the suspects as the state is desirous of prosecuting them for the offences allegedly committed.”