CRIME ‘Suspects exhumed corpse, cut off head, legs, hands’

The police yesterday arraigned four men before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ court for alleged unlawful possession of human parts.

The defendants, Suleiman Hammed, 35, an Islamic cleric; Olatunji Abiodun, 26, a bricklayer; Olapade Saheed, 32, a bus conductor and Akinyele Tope, 45, a clergyman all of Ibadan were arraigned on a three -count charge of conspiracy and unlawful possession of human parts.

The police prosecutor, Insp. Samad Aliu, told the court that on Feb. 3, Hammed, who was at the funeral of the deceased, one Okunola Ashimiyu, conspired with the other defendants to remove parts of the corpse from the grave.

He said the defendants and others now at large, allegedly conspired to commit the offence at Alapa Street, Ayegun, Ibadan.

The prosecutor added that the defendants were alleged to be in unlawful possession of one human head, legs and two hands.

He said the offence contravened sections 516 and 329 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol.II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

Upon the application by the counsel to Abiodun and Akinyele, the magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Omotosho, granted the four defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

She said one of the sureties must be a blood relation, while the second surety must be a civil servant not less than on grade level 10.

Omotosho ordered that the human parts tendered as exhibit should be released to the deceased family for re-burial.

She adjourned the case until April 3, for hearing. (NAN)