A 34-year-old factional leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), along with 10 others, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, the ONDO State capital, for an attempt to assassinate a traditional ruler, Oba Adeniyi Adinlewa, the Obaloogun of Igoba Land.
The suspect, Tolulope Alo, popularly known as ‘Asamo’, and the other accused were brought to court on an eight-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms, among others.
The other accused are Ayodele Saka (34), Seun Bankole (42), Kolawole Kazeem (35), Bankole Tobi (25), Sunday Amigun (32), Adedayo Ogidan (43), Olaoluwa Kayode (21), Seriki LateF (35) and Ezequiel Vincent (26).
The traditional ruler was said to have escaped from the whiskers when the suspect allegedly invaded Igoba community last Thursday, attacking residents.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Sulaiman Adebayo, the crimes occurred between October 1 and 2, 2025, at Aleo and Imolumo communities in Igoba, within the Akure Magisterial District, indicating that the suspects were armed with single barrel cannons, a dagger, Charms and other dangerous weapons.
Adebayo further stated that the accused were found with two barrel pistols cut to size, three live cartridges, two spent cartridges, two covers, five knives and a bullet proof vest.
While emphasizing that the suspects also destroyed a Teno mobile phone worth ₦80,000 and damaged tomato crops valued at ₦5,000 belonging to one Ms. Arowolo Joy, the prosecution emphasized that the accused violated sections 516, 320, 332, 251, 42 and 71 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, and Section 5 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 174, vol. 4, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. ONDO Property Listings
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni subsequently ruled that the accused will be detained for a day to allow their lawyers time to gather facts for a cross-examination.
Sekoni then ordered that they be transferred to Olokuta Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned until October 10, 2025, to hear the remuneration application.