The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) took a new twist on Wednesday when two leaders of the party were dragged to court.
DAILY POST recalls that the national headquarters of the party had recently expelled the Chairman of the NNPP in Ogun, Olaposi Oginni, for alleged anti-party activities.
When Oginni’s removal was announced by the party, a faction loyal to the governorship candidate of the party, Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, had stormed the secretariat of the party at Adatan for forcible takeover.
Oginni reported the matter to the police, alleging attack, stealing and malicious damage.
Consequently, the South West Public Relations Officer of the NNPP, Oladayo Badmus and a Party Chieftain Olayemi Idowu were on Wednesday dragged before an Abeokuta Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo.
They were arraigned “for stealing and malicious damage of valuables worth N575,000 belonging to Ogun NNPP.”
The defendants are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, malicious damage and stealing.
However, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against them by the police.
The prosecutor, ASP Matthew Famuyiwa, had told the Magistrate that the accused committed the offences on May 12, 2023.
According to ASP Famuyiwa, the defendants conspired to commit felony by breaking into Oginni’s NNPP office at Fajol House, Car Wash, Abeokuta.
He added that the duo damaged two standing fans, doors, windows, photo portraits and padlock, all valued N575,000.
He also alleged that the accused stole a sum of N7.5 million belonging to the complainant
The offence, he said, contravened Sections 516, 411, 412, 415 and 390 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.
However, Magistrate S. A. Fiade admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N2 million each, with one surety each, who must be licensed and registered bondsmen with the Ogun State judiciary.
The case was adjourned until June 8 for further hearing.
