by Akan Ido

Nine men were earlier today arraigned before an Ogbese Ayede Magistrates’ Court over an alleged attempt to commit murder.

They were accused of beating one Ogundele Oluwatosin (female) and Ogundele Femi (male) with iron rods to a state of coma.

The suspects are James Godwin, 30; Godwin Peter, 32; Sunday Bameyi, 28; Francis Ago-Odey, 25, and Omale Samuel, 22.

Others are Samson James, 35; Mathew Odey, 21; Monday Omale, 27, and James Ekpa, 70.

Police prosecutor, Amos Ekupe, said said that the accused persons and others at large committed the offence on December 9, at about 2pm at Oba-Ile, in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo.

Ekupe also accused the suspects of attacking police officers who were there to carry out their lawful duty.

According to him, the action of the suspects contravene Section 516 (A),508 and 356 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006 and is punishable by law.

He went on to plead with the court to grant him an adjournment so as to give him an opportunity to familiarize with the facts of the case.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Kolade Orungbaja, and Theresa Vincent, counsel to the defendants urged the court to grant the accused persons bail on most liberal terms.

In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi, granted the accused persons bail for N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

She reportedly added that the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and the sureties must provide three years tax clearance certificates.

Fadeyi also said that the sureties must file an affidavit of mean and fill the application for bail form.

The case was adjourned to January 10, 2013.