The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State has ordered the remand of five persons standing trial for an alleged ritual attack on a 16-year-old boy in Ikire.
The suspects appeared in court following investigations into an incident involving Farouq Abdulahi Taiwo, a sixth grade primary school pupil who reportedly survived an attempt on his life.
Those charged were: Awotunde Saudat, Muyideen Olutoki, Fatai Abiodun, Usman Ademola and Ismaila Abiodun, all charged with conspiracy and attempted murder.
At the hearing, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them by the police.
However, the presiding judge, Ayilara, ordered that the accused be arrested and detained at the Ilesa Correctional Center pending further proceedings.
Court documents indicated that the case has been transferred to the Ikire Magistrate Court and is listed under charge number MOS/SSA CID/15c/2025.
According to the charge sheet, “the accused persons allegedly conspired on July 25, 2025, at Ako area of Awotedo, to commit a serious offence, namely murder, in contravention of section 324 of the Penal Code of Osun State.”
A second charge alleges that “the accused attempted to unlawfully kill Farouq Abdulahi Taiwo by attacking him with a machete and attempting to remove his internal organs for ritual purposes, an offense punishable under Article 320 of the same law.”
When the matter came before Magistrate MA Ojo in Ikire on Thursday, January 15, the proceedings were adjourned to January 21 to allow the defense to file a bail application.
Counsel for one of the accused, Chief Abimbola Ige, informed the court that a bail application would be formally lodged on the adjourned date.
Reacting to what happened, a representative of the victim’s family, Alhaji Musbaudeen Daud, expressed concern over the frequency of similar incidents in the area.
He urged “the Osun State Government to ensure that justice is done. We want the government’s intervention in this matter so that the matter is not swept under the carpet.”