An Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court has granted bail to nine men accused of defaming and attacking a United States-based medical doctor during a mob incident in Ologuneru, Ibadan.
The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday before Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi at the Iyanganku Chief Magistrates’ Court on charges of conspiracy, assault, defamation and setting a vehicle ablaze.
The accused persons include Toheeb Abubakar, Sodiq Folorunsho, Afeez Awal, Oyewole Abolade, Safianu Haruna, Olusegun Daudu, Adeoye Muiz, Wasiu Monsiu and Sodiq Opeyemi.
Prosecuting counsel, ASP Sikiru Opaleye, informed the court that the defendants allegedly accused Dr Kola Afolabi, a Nigerian doctor based in the United States, of kidnapping two teenage girls.
According to the prosecutor, investigations later established that the allegation was unfounded, as the girls had been travelling to visit Afolabi’s mother with the approval of their own mother.
Opaleye alleged that the defendants participated in a mob attack on the complainant on May 12 in the Ologuneru area of Ibadan, during which he was physically assaulted and attacked with stones.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants deliberately damaged and set fire to the complainant’s Lexus RX 350 vehicle bearing Oyo State registration number NRK 118 AE.
The defendants were also accused of circulating defamatory content on social media by falsely portraying the complainant as a kidnapper.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences violated Sections 355, 375, 451 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
Lawyers representing the accused persons subsequently urged the court to grant their clients bail.
Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
She directed that one of the sureties must be a property owner with valid ownership documents, including a Certificate of Occupancy and registered survey, while the second must be a blood relative of the defendant.
The matter was adjourned until Aug. 6 for commencement of hearing.
