Court Remands Suspected Killer of Okada Rider in Ekiti

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

An Ado Ekiti Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of one
Toyin Ajakaye for alleged murder of a commercial motorcyclist (okada rider), Omoniyi Are.

According to the charge sheet with number MAD/133ft/2018, Ajakaye was alleged to have committed the crime on August 22 at Agbado-Ekiti in Gbonyin
Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Ajakaye told the court that he engaged the commercial motorcyclist to convey
him to a farm, but a fight allegedly ensued between them over
disagreement on the fare.

The fight, according to him, was sparked by his offer to pay the deceased N100 out of the N200 charged by the cyclist. The defendant claimed that he had N100 on him.

Ajakaye claimed that he held the deceased by the neck as he (Omoniyi)
was trying to hold his private part, adding that the deceased died in the course of the struggle.

The accused person confessed that when he couldn’t carry the corpse, he dug a shallow grave and tied a rope on the neck of the deceased and buried
him on the farm.

Ajakaye said he was arrested by passersby who handed him over to the police.

According to the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Lasisi Basiru, the defendant tied the rope on the neck of the deceased at the scene of the crime and
buried the corpse, adding that Ajakaye had earlier been detained for allegedly stealing goats.

The police prosecutor, Oriyomi Akinwale, pleaded with the court to grant the request to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The defence counsel, Busuyi Ayorinde, pleaded that the duplicate case file
be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice, adding that the
application for bail will be filed before an appropriate court.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Modupe Afeniforo, ordered that Ajakaye be
remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till October 16, 2018.