The police on Tuesday arraigned nine suspects allegedly involved in the defamation and mob attack on a US-based medical doctor in Ologuneru, Ibadan, Oyo state.
The suspects were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi of the Iyanganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, assault, defamation and setting a car ablaze.
The defendants are Toheeb Abubakar, 31; Sodiq Folorunsho, 31; Afeez Awal, 25; Oyewole Abolade, 28; Safianu Haruna, 31; Olusegun Daudu, 42; Adeoye Muiz, 22; Wasiu Monsiu, 30, and Sodiq Opeyemi, 26.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Sikiru Opaleye, the defendants allegedly conspired to accuse one Kola Afolabi, a US-based medical doctor, of kidnapping two adolescents.
Opaleye said the accusation was, however, found to be untrue, as investigations revealed the two girls were being taken to Afolabi’s mother with the permission of the girls’ mother.
He said the mob attack, which involved the throwing of stones and physical beating of the complainant, took place on May 12 at Ologuneru, Ibadan, at about 4.40 p.m.
In addition, the prosecutor alleged that the defendants willfully and unlawfully damaged and set ablaze the complainant’s Lexus 350 RX vehicle, registered as NRK 118 AE, Oyo State.
Opaleye said the defendants also allegedly published defamatory content about the complainant on social media, labelling him a kidnapper, which they knew to be false.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 355, 375, 451 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
All nine defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Subsequently, their counsel pleaded with the court for bail on liberal terms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr M. I. Johnson appeared for the 1st and 2nd defendants, while M. A. Onadiran stood for the 4th defendant.
Mr Ola Olaniyi appeared for the 5th and 7th defendants; Babatunde Adedeji for the 6th defendant; M. I. Ojeleye for the 8th defendant, and Adedapo Adelakun for the 9th defendant.
The third defendant, however, had no counsel to represent him.
The trial judge, Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
She ordered that a surety for each defendant must be a building property owner with an agreement, a registered survey and a Certificate of Occupancy.
The second surety, she said, must be a blood relation to each of the defendants.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter until August 6 for hearing. NAN