The high court sitting in Okitipupa has upheld and affirmed the Judgement of the Magistrate Court, Igbekebo on the 20th of July, 2017, which sentenced and convicted seven persons found guilty in a case of arson, malicious damage, willful destruction of houses and other valuables in Arogbo Town, Ese-Odo local government area of Ondo state.
The convicted persons include, Akins Tiewe, Love Sofiyegha, Gbefayefa Batife Onana, Towei Kowei, Fiyesi kumo Ojogo , Firikoriwei Agitan and Oni Adams all resident in Arogbo-Ijaw Community.
After initial conviction at the Igbekebo Magistrate, the convicts sought bail pending appeal which was granted, believing that the said convicts would expeditiously file their appeal.
However, since the bail was granted after three years, the convicts failed and refused to file their appeal and therefore, continued to enjoy their freedom in Arogbo Community.
But early this year, 2022, the convicted persons finally deemed it fit to file their appeal and on Wednesday, the 19th October 2022, there was another resounding Judgement by the Okitipupa high court, hearing the appeal which looked at the grounds of the appeal and consequently dismissed it in its entirety having found it of lacking in merit
The Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice D.I Kolawole, therefore affirmed and upheld the Judgement of the Igbekebo Magistrate Court.
The Plaintiffs, Alhaji Akerele Abdulateef Oweigbintiemo, Mr Teimobomi Tafabofa and Mr. Boubini Oweitongu in a statement made available to Precision Online Newspaper, noted that the members of public, especially, the Teaching Service Commission and the Local Government Commission where two of the convicted persons are Members of Staff (Akins Tiewe and Gbefayefa Batife Onana) should take note.
“It is also expedient to use this medium to inform the Commissioner of Police and other security Agents that the said convicts are still moving freely in Arogbo Community, whereas, they supposed to be returned to the Prison (Correctional centre) in line with the latest high court judgement in Okitipupa.
“The Judgements both at the Magistrate Court, Igbekebo and that of Okitipupa are public documents which can be accessed and verified by any person,” the statement said.
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