Top Southwest Monarch, 4 Others Remanded Over Alleged Arson

A traditional leader, the Elegbedi of Egbedi in Osun State, Oba Muideen Azeez, has been remanded in custody alongside four others over an alleged arson, possession of firearms and malicious damage of farmland in Osun State.

The Osun State High Court ordered the remand of the defendants until their bail conditions are perfected.

According to the prosecuting counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, Abiodun Badiora alleged that the offences committed by the defendants contravene Sections 402, 403A, 443, 2(1), and 249(1) of the State Criminal Law 2002.

Also, Mustafa Waheed, a witness in the matter said that Azeez assaulted him after he came with some officers of the Nigerian Police to arrest him (Azeez) over destruction in his farm.

After the hearing, the court granted the defendants bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties each.

The sureties, the court ruled must be civil servants of grade level 16 and must also own landed properties within its jurisdiction.

While the defendants were unable to perfect the conditions of bail handed to them, they were sighted being driven off in the operational vehicle of the Nigerian Correctional Service at 2.10 pm on Thursday.