A popular Ogboni chief, Tajudeen Bakare, who was among the suspects arrested during the July 1, 2021 Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos, has been charged with the murder of Jumoke Oyeleke, who was killed allegedly by a stray police bullet during the protest.
This hint was given in a statement by the Media Communications Secretary of Yoruba Nation, Maxwell Adeleye, on Monday.
Bakare is one of the 48 suspects being arraigned by the Lagos State police command for their participation in the Oodua Republic protest around the Gani Fawehimi Freedom Park.
The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had charged the suspects before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba.
But last week, the Yoruba self-determination groups’ umbrella body, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), rose in the suspects’ defence, and secured their bail.
Adeleye confirmed that the bail granted to all the protesters was upheld by the court, except that of Bakare, which was revoked.
“The court referred Bakare’s case to the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP) for further advice,” he added.
In another development, court documents obtained by The Nation revealed that the suspects were charged with unlawful assembly, unlawful society and conducts likely to cause breach of public peace.
Some of the suspects, according to Odumosu, were intercepted and found with guns, axes, Oodua flags, Yoruba Armed Forces vests and other items.
The suspects include Olasunkanmi Tanimola; Kabiru Lawanson; Chinemerem Emmanuel; Rasaki Musibau; Lukman Olalade; Olasanmi Oladipupo; Bashiru Shittu; Taofeek Abdusalam; Olamilekan Abata; Abdullahi Sikiru; Tosin Adeleye; Babatunde Lawal.
Others are Abiodun Taiwo, Adagunodo Babatunde, Oluwafemi Adeleye, Oloye Taiwo, Saheed Kareem, Adebayo Waheed, Akinbode Sunday, Lawal Akeem, Samuel Ire, Ogundile Dare, Oba Tajudeen Bakare.
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