Seven suspects accused of conspiring to set fire on the house of a traditional worshipper, Asabi Olorisa, were on Friday arraigned before the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The suspects were Yekini Oloruntele, Saliu Usman, Garba Yusuf, Mumini Showa, Isiaq Raji, Saliu Abubakar, and AbdulMumini Muhamed.
The suspects appeared before Justice Mahmud Gafar of the State High Court, Ilorin.
LEADERSHIP reports that on January 1, 2026, a bungalow belonging to the female traditional worshipper, Asabi Olorisa, was reportedly set ablaze, while she was away on holiday.
The State’s Police Command later arrested seven suspects in connection with the development.
The victim had reportedly dragged the suspects before the court through her counsel, Abdulmumeen Busari, of the State Ministry of Justice.
During Friday’s proceedings, the court read the charges against the seven suspects one after another.
The charges read: “That on January 1, 2026, you, Alhaji Yekini Oloruntele, Alhaji Saliu Usman, Garba Amuda Yusuf, Alhaji Mumini Showa, Imam Isiaq Raji, Alhaji Saliu Abubakar AbdulMumini Muhammed, and others at large, conspired to commit the arson.
“That you intentionally set fire on the residence of Toyin Asabi Olorisa, and burnt her house.
“Consequently, you committed a punishable offence under the state criminal act.”
All the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to Asabi Olorisa asked the court to remand the suspects in a correctional facility, while one of the counsels to the suspects, I. F. Yusuf, on behalf of others, opposed the application.
After the argument between the prosecution and defence counsels, Justice Mahmud Gafar granted the suspects bail “since the police had earlier granted them bail.”
He granted each suspect bail in the sum of N2.5m and one surety while he adjourned the case to March 26, 2026.
(Leadership)
