A group of reporters were held captive at the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday, as the court considered requests for and against the release on bail of a member of Osun Park Management System, Olalekan Oyeyemi.
Oyeyemi, also known as ‘Emir’, is facing a trial for 10 charges, including conspiracy, malicious damage, unlawful killing, and acts of terrorism.
He had pleaded not guilty, while his lawyer, Edmund Biriomoni, submitted a formal bail request for his release.
The prosecutor handling the case, Rabiu Usman from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, however, objected to the bail application during the previous Thursday's session, leading the court to adjourn the case until Tuesday for a hearing on the applications and subsequently detain the defendant.
During the resumed hearing, defense attorney Biriomoni notified the court of his decision to retract a bail application filed on February 7, 2024, and highlighted another bail application filed on March 13, 2024.
While presenting the bail application on behalf of his client, Biriomoni urged the court to grant Oyeyemi bail until the charges against him are heard and decided.
But Mr. Francis Osei, representing the prosecutor, Usman, opposed the application, stating that the prosecution had filed a counter application, requesting the court not to consider the defendant’s plea for bail.
In the ruling, Justice N. Ayo-Emmanuel postponed the decision on the applications, stating that the date of the next session would be communicated to the involved parties.
Meanwhile, suspected troublemakers at the court threatened to harm some reporters who were covering the case after the presiding judge had adjourned.
The troublemakers identified some of the journalists while the court was in session and threatened to cause them harm after the proceedings.
The reporters were unable to leave the premises for approximately 40 minutes after the adjournment, until some police officers stationed at the premises escorted them out of the court, as the suspected troublemakers, gathered under a tree outside the court, were instructed to leave the area by a female police officer.
