Masquerade Custodian, Son Land In Prison Over Murder In Osun Mosque

An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Tuesday ordered that a custodian of masquerade, Chief Kayode Esuleke, his son, Ifasola should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre over the murder of a Muslim worshipper, Moshood Salawudeen.

The other accused persons arraigned alongside the Esulekes: Kola Adeosun, Akeem Idowu were also remanded in the same prison with the father and son.

The four of them were arraigned before Justice Ayo Oyebiyi in Osogbo on Tuesday.

They were charged with murder, attempted murder, malicious damage, assault, breach of public peace and engaging in a public fight among other charges.

The prosecution counsel from the Osun State Ministry of Justice, Biodun Badiora, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on June 27 at the Oluode area of Osogbo.

He said, “The defendants on June 27, 2021 at about 2.00 pm in Aranyin Oluode area, Osogbo, shot Mr Salawudeen Moshood with a gun which resulted into his death.

“The defendants also attempted to kill Jelili Alimi, Saka Risikat, Ali Abdul Jelili, Ali Fatai Taofeek, Kabiru Maliq and Akinola Yahya by shooting them with a gun.

“Also they damaged a mosque belonging to Muslim faithfuls of Islamic Society of Nigeria, damaged a Toyota Camry, assaulted Aseyori Agboola by inflicting serious injury on his body and engaged in public fight with Muslims faithful.”

Badiora told the court that the offences allegedly committed by the four defendants were contrary to and punishable under Sections 82, 249, 319, 320(1), 355 and 451 of the Criminal Code Cap.34, Vol. 11 Laws of Osun State, 2002.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.

The defence team led by Chief Bola Ige, told the court that he had already filed a formal bail application before the court

He said medical report concerning Chief Kayode Esuleke who had just undergone surgery was attached to the application before the court.

He said, “We stated in our application before the court that Chief Esuleke should be granted bail on health grounds because he needs to see the neurosurgeon who is treating him. The defendants are indigenes of Osogbo and they reside here, they will come for their trial if granted bail and they have reliable sureties.”

The prosecution counsel however raised objections to the bail application.

He told the court that the prosecution team had also filled counter application to oppose the bail of the four defendants.

He said the correction centre had facilities to take care of the medical needs of the accused persons and urged the court to dismiss the application.

Justice Oyebiyi ordered that the four accused persons should be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Center and adjourned the case till September 212021 for consideration of bail.