Scale of justice

An Oyo State High Court on Tuesday granted bail to an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat, and four others accused of the murder of a teenager.

Justice M.I. Sule granted each defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Sule said one of the sureties must be a civil servant on Grade Level 14 while the other must be a business man.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case was first heard at an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 1.

It was, however, transferred to the high court as the magistrates’ court had no jurisdiction to hear the case. .

Hamzat , 37; Idowu Ibrahim , 27; Mohammed Bashir, 31; Taiwo Olaronke ,23; and Yusuf Toheeb Ajisafe, 23, were all arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

The Prosecutor, Insp Sunday Fatola, told the court that the defendants conspired among themselves to commit murder.

Fatola alleged that the defendants unlawfully caused the death of one Peter, 17, by inflicting an injury on his head and body.

He said Peter, who had been an inmate at a home owned by the Make a Future Alive Initiative, an NGO owned by Hamzat, was found dead at the home.

Fatola said the alleged offences were committed on July 21 at about 4. a.m. at the home at Oremeji Agugu, Ibadan.

He said the offences contravened Sections 324 and 316 and were punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol .II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The plea of the defendants was not taken by the court.

(NAN)