Popular Osun monarch, the Obawure of Ifetuntun, Oba Taofeeq Olaposi Osunmakinde and four others have been sent to Kuje prison over alleged illegal gold mining in Ondo State.
Oba Taofeeq alongside Sheu Mustapha, Sabiru Hashim, Danbaba Ibrahim and Ade Olap Global Resources Limited were arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja on two-count charges by the Nigerian government.
Counsel to the AGF, Toluwalope Ojo, said the five defendants conspired with others at large on August 25, 2024, to engage in the illegal mining of gold at the Ogunlepo mining site in Lege community, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He noted that the offence is contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under Section 1(8) of the same Act.
The AGF’s counsel said the monarch and co-defendants participated in gold mining without a licence, contrary to Section 1(8) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and punishable under the same Act.
Meanwhile, the monarch including the four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against them.
Counsel to the defendants, Vincent Ododo, prayed the judge to admit them to bail on various grounds.
Part of the grounds he cited was that the 1st defendant was a well-known traditional ruler and that the charges against them did not carry capital punishment while assuring that the defendants would not fail to appear in court for trial.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, admitted them to bail in the sum of N20m each with one surety in the like sum.
The judge ordered that the sureties must be resident in Abuja, own landed property and must produce a three-year tax clearance certificate.
He also ordered that the defendants must deposit their international passports along with three copies of each of their recent passport photographs with the deputy chief registrar of the court.
The judge ordered that they be taken to the Kuje correctional facility pending their bail perfection.
He adjourned the matter to September 26th 2024 for trial.
