An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Monday, discharged and acquitted a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ekiti State, Mr Ropo Adesanya and four others.
They were tried on charges of conspiracy, threatening violence and breach of peace.
The defendants were Chief James Dada (49), Chief Jegede James (65), Jegede Ebenezer (72), Chief Matthew Fabamise (65) and Oluwaropo Adesanya (67).
The defendants were arraigned before Magistrate A.O Adeosun on Sept. 4, 2023 on a three-count charge of conspiracy, threatening violence and breach of peace.
Delivering his judgment, Magistrate Adeosun held that, “having found that the prosecution has not adduced evidence to link the defendants with the commission of the offences in count II and count III, while count I which borders on conspiracy also fails.
“On the whole, after a careful and most anxious consideration of the evidence, I have come to the conclusion that the prosecution has failed to discharge the onus placed on them.
“Consequently, each defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted on count I, II and III.”
The prosecutor, ASP Johnson Okunade, had told the court that the defendants committed the offence on April 21, 2023, at about 07:00 pm in Ijan-Ekiti.
He said the defendants conspired among themselves to commit a felony.
Okunade told the court that a case of threatened violence against the complainant, Maj. olajide Ijadare, was reported at the station, while the defendants also conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.
According to him, the offences contravened Sections 421, 69 and 181(1) (d) of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State 2021.
