Yoruba Nation Agitator, Adejumo Lateef, Dies In Custody Amidst Ongoing Trial
Adejumo Lateef, one of the Yoruba Nation agitators on trial, has died while in custody, the Nigeria Correctional Services disclosed on Wednesday, October 16.
Lateef, the 18th defendant in a high-profile case, was part of a group facing charges related to the April 13, 2024, invasion of the Oyo State government Secretariat. The agitators, advocating for the creation of a sovereign Yoruba Nation (Oodua Republic), are accused of attempting to declare independence during the incident. The case, registered as suit number I/51c/2024, is being heard at Fiat Court 3 of the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, with Justice K. B. Olawoyin presiding.
The 27 defendants, including Lateef, are facing charges of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful assembly, treasonable felony, and treason. Other key figures on trial include Adeyemo Peter, Adeyemo Joseph, Amos Oluwaseyi Ogundeji, Ayanwale Rofiat, Fatoki Anthony, Murittala Abefe, and Ismaila Adepoju.
The charges are tied to the events of April 13, 2024, and fall under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
At Wednesday’s court session, proceedings were delayed due to the lack of legal representation for most of the defendants. Adebola Ogungbe represented the 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 12th defendants, while Toluwase Ogundeji stood in for the 15th defendant. Two more lawyers, Yomi Ogunlola and S.A. Sanmi, volunteered to assist other unrepresented defendants. However, the 6th, 23rd, and 24th defendants requested time to contact their families for legal support. As a result, Justice Olawoyin postponed the case to November 6, 8, and 13 for further hearings and arraignment.
The prosecution is being led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for Oyo State, Mr. S. O. Adeoye, with support from Deputy DPP O. R. Yussuf and senior state counsels S. A. Osuolale, Yisa Busari, and O. A. Bolarinwa.
Lateef’s death in custody adds further complexity to an already sensitive case surrounding the Yoruba Nation movement.
