Ondo Court Orders Remand of 10 Suspects in Attempted Murder, Communal Violence Case
In what has been described as one of the most shocking and brazen displays of communal violence in recent times, ten men have been ordered by the Chief Magistrate Court of Ondo State sitting in Akure to be remanded in the prison, over their alleged involvement in a violent attack on Igoba community, which included an attempted assassination of His Royal Highness, Oba Adinlewa Adeniyi John, the Obalogun of Igoba Land.
The case, registered under charge number ENO MAK/AM/899/2025, was brought before Chief Magistrate Damilola Sekoni by the Commissioner of Police.
The defendants – Seun Bankole (46), Alo Tolulope (32), Kolawole Kazeem (35), Seriki Lateef (35), Bankole Tobi (25), Sunday Amigun (32), Ayodele Saka (34), Adedayo Ogidan (43), Olaoluwa Kayode (26), and Ezekiel Vincent (31) – alongside others still at large, were alleged to have committed multiple felonies between the 1st and 2nd of October 2025 in the Aleo and Imolumo communities of Igoba, within the Akure Magisterial District.
According to the charges filed by the police, the accused persons were alleged to have conspired to commit felonies including unlawful assembly, unlawful possession of firearms, promotion of inter-communal war, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, and issuing threats to life – offences contrary to and punishable under various sections of the Criminal Code and the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act.
It was alleged that the defendants unlawfully assembled in a manner that instilled fear among residents and disturbed public peace. The prosecution stated that they were found in possession of two cut-to-size barrel guns, three live cartridges, two expended shells, two cutlasses, a bulletproof vest, and five knives, all without lawful excuse. They are also accused of instigating and promoting communal war against the Obalogun of Igoba, HRH Oba Adinlewa Adeniyi John, culminating in a coordinated and violent assault on his palace.
The charges further stated that during the said attack, the accused persons attempted to murder the Oba by storming his residence armed with guns, cutlasses, sticks, and other dangerous weapons. In the course of this same violent spree, one Mrs. Arowolo Joy was also allegedly attacked, beaten with sticks and fists, and severely injured. Her mobile phone, a Tecno device valued at eighty thousand naira (N80,000), and her tomato garden worth five thousand naira (N5,000) were said to have been maliciously destroyed. The accused were also alleged to have threatened the life of the monarch using firearms, knives, charms, and cutlasses, declaring their intent to terminate his life.
When the charges were read and interpreted to the accused in court, they all pleaded not guilty. The Police Prosecutor applied that the defendants be remanded in prison custody to allow for the proper transmission of the case file to the Office of the Attorney General for legal advice.
Chief Magistrate Damilola Sekoni granted the application and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison until December 2025, pending the legal advice from the Attorney General’s office.
Present in court was Barrister Dan Olawale-Dan, who represented HRH Oba Adinlewa Adeniyi John, while the defendants were represented by Barrister Emmanuel Emodamori.
As the legal proceedings commence, the Igoba community watches closely, yearning for justice and a return to peace after the dark shadow cast over their land by this alleged assault on its traditional institution and innocent citizens.