Court Orders Remand of Five Suspects Over Alleged Ritual Attack on 16-Year-Old in Osun

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has ordered the remand of five individuals standing trial over an alleged ritual attack on a 16-year-old boy in Ikire, Osun State.

The suspects were arraigned following police investigations into an incident involving Farouq Abdulahi Taiwo, a Primary Six pupil who reportedly survived an attempt on his life.

Those docked before the court are Awotunde Saudat, Muyideen Olutoki, Fatai Abiodun, Usman Ademola and Ismaila Abiodun. They are facing charges bordering on conspiracy and attempted murder.

At the hearing, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the police. However, the presiding judge, Ayilara, ordered that the accused persons be taken into custody and remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

Court documents revealed that the matter has been transferred to the Chief Magistrate Court in Ikire and is listed under charge number MOS/SSA CID/15c/2025.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired on July 25, 2025, at the Ako area of Awotedo to commit a felony, namely murder, an offence said to be contrary to Section 324 of the Osun State Criminal Code.

A second count alleged that the suspects attempted to unlawfully kill Farouq Abdulahi Taiwo by attacking him with a cutlass and attempting to remove his internal organs for ritual purposes, an offence punishable under Section 320 of the same law.

When the case came up before Magistrate M. A. Ojo in Ikire on Thursday, January 15, the court adjourned proceedings to January 21 to enable the defence to file a bail application.

Counsel to one of the defendants, Chief Abimbola Ige, informed the court that a formal bail application would be presented on the adjourned date.

Reacting to the development, a representative of the victim’s family, Alhaji Musbaudeen Daud, expressed concern over the rising cases of similar incidents in the area. He urged the Osun State Government to ensure justice is served, stressing that the matter must not be swept under the carpet.