By Oluwatosin Maliki
On Monday, a High Court, sitting in Akure, Ondo State, sentenced a total of six persons to two years imprisonment over violence and breach of peace in the coastal community of Ayetoro in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
Quest Times gathered that the six convicts were; Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi, who claimed to be the spiritual leader of the community, Victor Akinluwa, Isaac Ikuyelorimi, Lawrence Lemamu, George Eyekole and Segun Okenla.
The convicts were apprehended by the police on January 11, 2018, following a violent incident that erupted in the riverine community where several people were said to be injured and property destroyed.
It was learnt that they were arraigned in court on a 10-count charge bordering on violence and breach of peace.
During the trial, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Babatunde Falodun, levelled a 10-count charge against Ojagbohumi, Victor Akinluwa, Isaac Ikuyelorimi, Lawrence Lemamu, George Eyekole and Segun Okenla over the violence that occurred in Aiyetoro on January 11, 2018.
Furthermore, the prosecution noted that the offence committed by the convicts was contrary to Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
Also, one of the convicts, George Eyekole, was charged with an attempt to murder one Olu Obolo by shooting him with a gun during the crisis, contrary to Section 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
Though, in court the suspects pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against them.
Consequently, the court convicted them of malicious damage of property contrary to Section 37 of the Criminal Code, laws of the state.
Justice David Kolawole who presided over the case, while delivering judgement, found the convicts guilty of the offence and sentenced them to two years with hard labour.
However, the judge specifically sentenced one of the convicts, Eyekole, to five years in prison with hard labour for the attempted murder of Obolo during the mayhem in the community.
Although, Justice Kolawole, gave them an option, except Eyekole, to pay a fine of N50,000, for the offences committed. The judge also asked them to pay the sum of N300.000 each as compensation for the damaged property.
He warned that the convicts would be held responsible for any further breach of peace in the community, if they opted to pay the fine and the fine would be returned in case of violation of the peace accord.
The judge ruled, “If there is a breach of peace in the community and any of the convicts is charged to court, the prison term that had been suspended, through the payment of the fine, will be reinstated and the fine paid will be refunded by the government”.