Twelve out of the 25 students of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, who were brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on charges of conspiracy, murder, and negligence, were discharged on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students were initially arraigned on June 5 for their alleged involvement in the murder of a fellow student.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Olabisi Ogunkanmi, had previously ordered the students to be remanded in a correctional facility in Ibadan pending the outcome of legal advice. Upon reviewing the legal advice, it was determined that there was no evidence linking 12 of the students to the alleged offences. The students who were discharged are:
1. Kehinde Martins
2. Samuel Okorie
3. Mustapha Khalid
4. Yusuf Adeniran
5. Joseph Areoye
6. Iyanuoluwa Oyelakin
7. Obaloluwa Olalekan
8. Emmanuel Adejumobi
9. John Daudu
10. Moses Abiola
11. Hammad Tijani
12. David Kolawole
One of the defendants, Femi Oladoye, a security guard at the university, who was earlier charged with negligence of duty, was granted bail in the sum of N250,000, with two sureties in like sum. Ogunkanmi adjourned the case till July 8 for mention.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, CSP Funke Fawole, informed the court that the offences were committed on May 24 at about 9 p.m. at Ajayi Crowther University. Fawole stated that the defendants unlawfully caused the death of 22-year-old Jefry Akro, a student of the university, by beating him with planks and electrical wire. Oladoye was accused of failing to prevent the aggrieved students from beating Akro to death.
The offences contravene Sections 516, 515, and 324 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000. Further proceedings in the case are scheduled for July 8.
