An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Monday, discharged and acquitted a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state, Mr Ropo Adesanya and 4 others for conspiracy, threatened violence and breach of peace.
The defendants were; Chief James Dada (49), Chief Jegede James (65), Jegede Ebenezer (72), Chief Matthew Fabamise (65) and Oluwaropo Adesanya (67).
The defendants were arraigned before Magistrate A.O Adeosun on Sept. 4, 2023 on a three-count charge of conspiracy, threatened violence and breach of peace.
Delivering his judgment, Magistrate Adeosun held that, “having found that the prosecution has not abduced evidence to link the defendants with the commission of the offences in count II and count III, while count I which borders on conspiracy also fails.
“On the whole, after a careful and most anxious consideration of the evidence, I have come to the conclusion that the prosecution has failed to discharge the onus placed on them.
“Consequently, each defendants is hereby discharged and acquitted on count I, II and III”,he ruled.
The prosecutor, ASP Johnson Okunade, had told the court that the defendants committed the offence on April 21, 2023 at about 07:00 p.m in Ijan-Ekiti.
He said the defendants conspired among themselves to comit felony.
Okunade told the court that a case of threatened violence against the complainant, Maj. olajide Ijadare, was reported at the station, while the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.
According to him, the offences contravened Sections 421, 69 and 181(1) (d) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State 2021.
The complainant in his testimony said, “I know the defendants very well, we were born together at Ikesan, but they ganged and conspired against me because of a traditional installation.
“They lured the 4th defendant and Chief James Dada, when we wanted to install Oba Orun. The 2nd and 3rd defendants, however mobilised their sons with dangerous weapons, money, gun, illicit drugs and hard liquor.
“The defendants incited their sons to burn tyres at the venue of the installation ceremony, apparently to ensure that the installation did not hold.
“They also broke bottles, carry Cutlass, shouting that they will shed blood if we go ahead to perform the installation.
“They threatened to kill me and cut my head. As a result of this, I invited my security officer to put a call to the Nigerian Military men around to come to our aid in order to prevent breakdown of laws and order,”he explained.
The prosecution called 5 witnesses and said the defendants did not offer any evidence in their defence, however they made statement, denying committing the offences levelled against them in their statements.
Their counsels gave evidence and called witnesses in the defence of their case, but 3 witnesses gave evidence on the side of the defence.