Court Frees 20 Students Arraigned for Breach of Peace in Osun State

20 Students Arraigned in Osun State freed

An Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court yesterday freed twenty students of Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun, who were arraigned on charges of breach of peace and arson while protesting the death of their fellow students last October.

The accused, Orioye Akintunde, Alabi Ibrahim, Bolarinwa Saheed, Osunolale Rukayat, Oyeleke Comfort and 15 others faced summary trial before they were freed by the court.

Upon their arraignment on 16th October, 2012 after they were apprehended by the police, all the accused pleaded not guilty to a two count charge of malicious damage and breach of peace preferred against them.

According to the details of their offences, the accused were said to have damaged 36 vehicles, attacked the Divisional office of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, and Orangun of Ila's palace during the riot.

While addressing the court, counsel to the accused persons, Sunday Akinsola, urged the court to free his clients.

In his judgment, Magistrate Olusola Aluko stressed that the prosecution failed to link the arraigned students with the incident and that no reasonable court will convict on baseless charges.

He submitted that all the evidences before the court were not annexed to establish the students' involvements in the protest and subsequently, declared that further proceedings be halt and set the students free.