A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered the sealing of Crown Emirate Hotel in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State, following the deaths of three persons during a convocation party stampede.
The court also granted an application by the Ekiti State Attorney General allowing the Director of Public Prosecution to take over the matter.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun issued the order after 12 suspects were arraigned by the police in connection with the incident.
During proceedings, the police prosecutor, Martins Akala, filed an ex parte motion seeking the remand of the suspects in a correctional facility for 30 days to allow further investigation.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy, criminal negligence and manslaughter, supported by a 10-paragraph affidavit.
Kunle Adeyemo, Deputy Director and Legal Officer for Ekiti State, told the court that he had the authority of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, SAN, to assume control of the case.
Defence counsel opposed the request, arguing that there was no reasonable basis for remanding their clients and that such action would violate their right to liberty. They also maintained that the defendants were not present at the scene of the incident.
The magistrate, however, ordered that all suspects be remanded in correctional custody pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution and adjourned the matter until May 19, 2026, for hearing.
In a separate development, an Enugu State Magistrate’s Court has ordered Mrs Patricia Nwobodo, wife of former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, to pay N1 million for failing to prosecute a criminal case she instituted.
Mrs Nwobodo had filed a four-count charge against a Lagos-based cleric, Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
Delivering judgment at the Enugu South Magisterial District, Magistrate D.K. Ekoh said the order followed the persistent absence of the complainant in court since January 2026.
The magistrate held that her conduct showed a lack of interest in pursuing the matter.
“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against,” he said.
The court struck out the case, awarded N1 million costs against Mrs Nwobodo and directed that the defendants should not be re-arrested on the basis of the same complaint.
The defendants — Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, Arinze Onoja, Sedro Theodore and Basil Ogbuanu — were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges of conspiracy, deprivation of liberty and assault.
During proceedings, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, told the court that he had not seen the complainant since the case began and could not proceed with witness statements.
Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charges, stating that his clients, who are artisans and a Lagos resident, had been repeatedly burdened with travelling to Enugu for a case the complainant was unwilling to pursue.
