On Thursday, a Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, issued an order for the remand of Olalekan Oyeyemi, a member of the Osun Park Management System, at the Ile-Ife Correctional Centre. Referred to as ‘Emir’ and appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke, Oyeyemi faced an 11-count charge presented by the Nigeria Police Force. The charges originated from a 2023 incident when Oyeyemi was arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Osun State Police Command for allegedly beating a man into a coma.
During the court session, Edmund Biriomoni, Oyeyemi’s counsel, expressed concerns about the court’s jurisdiction and contested the counts related to murder in the charge against his client. Umar Usman from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, leading the prosecution, sought the court’s permission to withdraw a previously filed charge and replace it with an amended charge dated January 31, 2024.
Although the defense counsel attempted to verbally object to counts 4 to 11, Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel advised filing a formal application. Justice Ayo-Emmanuel approved the substitution of the charge and remanded Oyeyemi, setting the stage for further legal arguments.
The matter has been adjourned until March 5, awaiting the formal objection from the defense regarding the amended charge.
