By FUNMILAYO OKUNADE

Two men who allegedly claimed to be the Ekiti chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and fought over the position were on Monday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The defendants, Bamidele Ekunola, 73, and Ilesanmi Omolayo, 45, are facing a two-count charge of breach of peace and threatening violence.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court that the defendants and others at large committed the offences on Oct. 2 in Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by laying claim to and fighting over the position of ADC chairman in Ekiti.

Oriyomi also alleged that the defendants and others at large unlawfully threatened violence in the community by fighting over the position.

According to him, the offences contravened Sections 69 and 181(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and present his witnesses.

Counsel to the first defendant, Mr Oluwasola Fapounda, and counsel to the second defendant, Mr Paul Akomolafe, both urged the court to grant their clients bail, promising that they would not jump bail.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with one surety each in like sum.

He adjourned the case until Oct. 30 for hearing. (Text, excluding headline: NAN)

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