An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday discharged and acquitted 12 of the 25 students from Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, who are standing trial for alleged murder.
On June 5, the 25 students faced charges of conspiracy, murder, and negligence.
Persecondnews reports that Jefry Akro, a 22-year-old student, passed away on May 25 due to injuries he sustained during a brutal beating by his peers at the Shepherd Inn hostel on the university campus, where they accused him of stealing a phone.
In her ruling, Ogunkanmi stated that the legal advice received exonerated the 12 students, as there was no sufficient evidence to link them to the alleged crimes, and therefore, she discharged them of all charges.
The 12 discharged students are: Kehinde Martins, Samuel Okorie, Mustapha Khalid, Yusuf Adeniran, Joseph Areoye, Iyanuoluwa Oyelakin, Obaloluwa Olalekan, Emmanuel Adejumobi, John Daudu, Moses Abiola, Hammad Tijani, and David Kolawole.
The court granted bail to Femi Oladoye, a security guard at the university and one of the 25 defendants facing charges of negligence of duty, with a bond of N250,000 and two sureties of the same amount, totaling N500,000.
Prosecutor CSP Funke Fawole alleged that the defendants engaged in a violent attack on May 24, around 9 p.m., at Ajayi Crowther University, resulting in the tragic death of 22-year-old student Akro.
According to Fawole, the defendants used planks and electrical wire to fatally beat the victim.
Fawole said that the security guard, Oladoye, negligently failed to intervene and prevent the assault, allowing the agitated students to brutally beat Akro to death.
She stated that the defendants’ actions violated sections 516, 515, and 324 of the Oyo State Criminal Code, 2000, which pertain to conspiracy, murder, and grievous bodily harm, respectively.
The case has been adjourned until July 8 for mention.
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