How a Lawyer Secured the Release of 5 Ogun Residents Remanded for Robbery and Arson By the Police.(fij.ng)

Five residents of Pakiyaima Phase II, Ode-Remo, Ogun State, who were arrested by the police over allegations of robbery and arson in May, have been discharged and acquitted.O. O. Nwani, the suspects’ lawyer, told FIJ his clients were discharged and acquitted after legal advice from the office of the state’s director of public prosecutions was presented in court.

The released persons are Abdullahi Yahaya, Kogan Phillel, Boniface Thomas, Rafiu Sheriff and Nuhu Aminu. Peter David, the sixth defendant, is, however, still in custody.

Three out of the five released suspects

“The DPP did not find any sufficient evidence to charge them with armed robbery and arson. This left the court with no choice but to discharge and acquit them. This means they were wrongfully detained for three months and four days,” Nwani said.“Peter David is, however, still in custody because of a false statement that he was coerced to write by the police.”In May, FIJ reported how police officers attached to Ode-Remo Police Station stormed Pakiyaima and arrested 14 residents two days after Abdul Ibrahim, a commercial motorcycle rider, was hit by a car driven by Oluwabukunmi Akinyemi, an Oyo State-based student.The rider’s death led to a mob protest, forcing Akinyemi to take refuge at the nearest police station. During the protest, his car was burnt.Two days after the incident, the police visited Pakiyaima in a raid and arrested 14 of its residents. After eight out of the arrested residents secured bail, the remaining six were transferred to the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)’s office in Abeokuta.On their first appearance in court, they were charged with armed robbery and arson. According to the information gathered by FIJ, all the arrested persons were not at the scene of the crime when it was committed.

“We were beaten almost everyday while in jail,” said Boniface Thomas, one of the released residents.“We were also fed with N200 food just once on a daily basis. I however, thank God that I have regained freedom. We were made to suffer for what we knew nothing about. I also thank Lawyer Nwani for ensuring that we were released. He did not collect a dime from us.”Nwani told FIJ that he was working to ensure that David, the resident still in jail, also regained freedom soon.“Despite all the challenges we are presently facing on David’s issue, I am confident we would also get him released soon,” he said.