Former chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, the caretaker secretary of the party, Rasaq Salinsile and other five chieftain of the party who are loyalists of the former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola have been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court.
The other five persons arraigned before the court were identified as; former Commissioner for Works and Transports, Kazeem Salami, former Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Com. 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.
Recall that some members of the APC on August 14 invaded the party secretariat to submit petitions as the party’s Ward Congress Appeal Committee resumed sitting at the Party’s 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 committed an offence 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 were 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.
The stalwarts of APC 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 labelled against them.
The defence counsels, N. A Adediran and Abdulfatai Abdulsalam sought their bail.
Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara admitted the bail of the first two defendants with the sum of 5 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.