Suspected killers of Prof. Ilemobade charged with murder

Ade Akanbi, Akure

The suspected killers of a former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure,  Prof. Albert Ilemobade, were brought before the Ondo State High Court, Akure, on Thursday and charged with conspiracy, murder and robbery.

The accused ─  Daniel Effiom and Olayemi Bamitale ─ who were the late don’s gatekeeper and driver respectively, allegedly killed the former VC of FUTA on June 21, 2015, in his Ijapo, Akure, residence and stole his Toyota Jeep.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions,  Mrs. Adeyemi Tuki, the accused are arraigned for “conspiracy to commit murder contrary to Section 324, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Law of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”

The particulars of the offence stated that  Ita Effiom and Olayemi Bamitale “on 21st of June, 2015, on Ikere  Street, Ijapo Estate, Akure,  in Akure Judicial Division, conspired to murder one Prof. Albert Ilemobade.”

The two accused were also charged with robbery contrary to Section 1(2) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap 11, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The particulars of the offence stated that the accused, while using violence, did rob the late professor of his Toyota RAV 4, laptop, iPad and a sum of N7,000.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Their counsel, Mr. Abduraman Yusuf, did not apply for bail, but opted for the trial.

The prosecution counsel, Tuki,  who led other five counsels, presented four witnesses, comprising two policemen, a member of Ilemobade’s family and the doctor who conducted the autopsy on the remains of the late professor.

Two of the witnesses, the son of the deceased, Ayokunle Ilemobade, and the Investigating Police Officer, Mr. Sikiru Lawal, gave evidences before the court, saying that they initially thought it was a case of kidnapping until the suspects were apprehended in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, by the men of the state police command.

The presiding Judge, Justice Williams Olamide adjourned  the case till October 27, 2015 for further hearing.