August 23, (THEWILL) – The Caretaker Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Rasaq Salinsile, former Chairman of the party, Adelowo Adebiyi, and five others have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court.
The other five persons arraigned included: Former Commissioner for Works and Transports, Kazeem Salami, former Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, former Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon Idowu Korede, one Alaba Popoola and Azeez Adekunle.
The suspects are leaders of a caucus group in the Osun chapter of the APC.
THEWILL recall that some members of the APC on August 14 besieged the party secretariat to submit petitions as the party’s Ward Congress Appeal Committee resumed sitting at the its Ogo-Oluwa premises in Osogbo.
But political thugs allegedly attacked members of the APC outside the premises leading to the arrest of suspects
The defendants were charged for assault occasioning harm and thereby committing offences contrary to and punishable under Section 516 and 355 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. Il laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants on August 14, at about 1:30 pm at Ogo Oluwa, Osogbo, allegedly assaulted one Hamzat Lukman Babatunde by hitting him with stones on his head.
They were also charged for allegedly assaulting another person, Ajetumobi Muldeen, by hitting him with parts of broken plastic chairs on his head, which caused him harm.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge levelled against them.
The defence counsel, N.A. Adediran and Abdulfatai Abdulsalam, sought their bail.
Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara granted bail to the first two defendants with the sum of N5 million and one surety who must be a civil servant while the 3rd to 7th defendants were admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million and self-recognition.
The case was adjourned till September 24 for mention.
