The Chief of Staff to Oyo’s Governor Seyi Makinde, Chief Oyebisi Ilaka has stated that he was sure he would win the case that was brought against him after the incident at the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace where three lives were lost during last year’s electioneering campaign exercise.
Asked how he felt when the court discharged him and absolved him of any complicity, he said “I feel fine, but I was pretty sure that justice would be done. The case relating to me had to do with the possession of a firearms license which I told the court all along that I possess a valid license. So at all times, I wasn’t in possession of my gun unlawfully”.
Justice K.B Olawoyin, in his judgment, agreed with the no case submission of Ilaka’s counsel, Abiodun Abdu-Raheem and freed him of the eight charges brought against him. Ilaka had been charged for murder in 2018 by the state government.
The judge also ordered the police to return Chief Ilaka’s licensed pump-action firearm and other materials taken from him before the commencement of the trial.
Abdu-Raheem had argued that the quality of evidence tendered and the testimonies of the five prosecution witnesses called during the trial did not establish a prima facie case against his client.
Ilaka, who is the Ladilu of Oyo and his security aide, Temitayo Alamiyo were arraigned following the death of three persons in the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace on September 8, 2018 when his car was waylaid by hoodlums. They were both remanded in Agodi Prisons for over a fortnight.
Packaged by Wole Adejumo
