Former LG Chairman Convicted Of Arson In Osun…Gets 4-Year Sentence
A former Local Government chairman in Osun state, Mr Tajudeen Babatunde, who was convicted of arson, has gotten a four-year sentence.
He had since 2019 faced charges bordering on conspiracy, malicious damage, and arson.
Babatunde , a former Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Iwo West Local Council Development Authority, was declared convicted alongside five others; Sunday Ajoko, Jonas John, Kohonu Deboye, Adeoye Alabi and Kasumu Ajao.
In the suit number: MIW/68c/2019, Magistrate A. Famuyide of Iwo Magistrates’ Court declared all the six defendants convicted.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Magistrate however gave one of the convicts, Kasumu Ajao an option of fine citing his age and ill health. He was asked to pay N80,000 fine ,
The convicts were accused of cutting about 400 palm trees and other economic trees valued at about N10 million at Ayigbiri Orupekere farm located along Iwo/Ibadan road in Iwo, Osun state on February 16, 2019.
That was not all, they had also reportedly set fire to the farm.
The Oosa Olaniyi family , Iwo, which had filed the lawsuit through their counsel, Mr Dele Abbas, had also asked the state Ministry of Justice to take over the prosecution from the police, a request that was granted by the government.
Magistrate Famuyide had on Wednesday declared all the defendants convicted but delayed the sentencing hearing till Thursday.
The Magistrate submitted that the prosecution proved all the allegations leveled against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt and she consequently declared the former LG chairman and five others convicted.
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The six defendants, their counsel, Mr Laide Yekini, prosecuting counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Mikaheel Idris, and counsel for the Oosa Olaniyi family attended the sentencing hearing on Thursday-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
