Aderiye’s Murder: Court Frees Suspects… APC Welcomes Judgment

Seven suspects standing trial in murder’s case and
complicity in killing of former chairman NURTW in Ekiti State, Chief Omolafe
Aderiye have been discharged and acquainted.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said the prosecutor needs to prove
their case beyond the reasonable doubt.

Jubilation rent the court premises as the supporters of
freed men chanted solidarity songs in the support of the court judgement. The accused have been incarcerated for more than three
years.

The seven freed suspects are: Niyi Adedipe (Apase), Sola
Adenijo (Solar), Bayo Aderiye (Ojuigo), Rotimi Olabiwonu (Mentilo), Sola
Durodola, Ajayi Kayode and Oso Farotimi.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has praised Ekiti State judiciary for living to
the expectations of Ekiti people in ensuring justice in the murder trial of APC
members who were framed up by the administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose
over the murder of the leader of drivers’union in the state, the late Omolafe
Aderiye.

The court discharged and acquitted
the innocent people after facts revealed that they knew nothing about the
murder. After the late driver was murdered, his aide, Gbolahan Okeowo, made a
statement implicating the  APC members.
Later, he swore to an affidavit recanting his earlier claim, explaining that
Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, tore his true statement and personally
wrote another statement implicating APC members and coerced him to submit the
false statement to the police implicating innocent people.

Gbolahan ran away from the  state after making his confessional statement
following threats to his life by suspected Fayose’s aides. In court, witnesses
could not prove their allegations against the accused.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by
Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party expressed delight that “one
of the many illegalities of Fayose and his gang of criminals has been foiled by
the court in Ado-Ekiti today”.

He added: “We are happy as a party that truth has
reigned over falsehood despite Fayose’ intrigues in  perpetually keeping innocent citizens in
prison over trump-up murder charges orchestrated by him and his PDP terrorists.

“The discharge and acquitted verdict pronounced by the
presiding judge has vindicated us that Ekiti is under bondage of a ruthless
governor that could do anything to subvert constitution and the rule of law and
keep innocent people in pains to rot away for the offences they do not commit
if that will allow him to seize Ekiti landscape to perpetuate impunity.

“We commend the judge and the judiciary for this
landmark judgement and by this judgement, our people are a bit relieved that
for once the judiciary in Ekiti will regain its independence under the
megalomaniac rule of Fayose.

“We shall do everything under the law to end Fayose’s
misrule and season of anomie in Ekiti State this year.

“We will join and support our people to seek redress
against the illegality of their detention and sufferings.” Olatunbosun
added that Fayose had questions to answer on his involvement in the callous
incarceration of the innocent people over trump-up charges and other
infringements against the law and rights of citizens, particularly members of
the opposition.

“This is calĺing on the security agencies to beam their
searchlight on Fayose in the investigation of Aderiye’s murder because we see
the trump up charge against members of our party as an attempt to hide the
facts of the murder.”