Chief Imam, Masquarade, Others Arrested, Charged To Court In Osun
On Monday, Qosim Yunus, the Chief Imam of the Kamorudeen Central Mosque in Osogbo, and Ifashola Esuleke, an Egungun worshipper, were charged at a Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State.
They were charged in connection with a conflict between Muslims and traditionalists that resulted in the death of a Muslim, Alhaji Moshood Salawudeen, and the injuries of 14 others.
They were charged with conduct likely to provoke a public disturbance, obstruction of duty, attacking a policewoman inspector, and assault causing bodily harm.
Salawu Jimoh, Alarape Sulaiman, and Raimi Saheed, three Muslim members, and Adeosun Kola and Idowu Abimbola, two Egungun devotees, were arraigned with the Imam and masquarade carrier.
Mr Abiodun Badiora, the prosecutor, told the court that the defendants’ actions were illegal and punishable under sections 83, 197, 355, 356(5)(6), 451 and 517 of the State Criminal Law 2002.
They all pled not guilty to the charges, and their lawyers, Qaasim Odedeji and Abimbola Ige, asked for their release.
Mr Asimiyu Adebayo, the presiding magistrate, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety each. The lawsuit was postponed until September 13, 2021.
