Three Arraigned, Remanded Over Ibadan Explosion

An explosion on January 16 that shook Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state resulted in the arraignment of three people before a Federal High Court on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The bomb caused 58 houses to be significantly damaged, five confirmed deaths, and 78 injuries of varying degrees.

Three people were charged on a five-count charge: Abubakar Samasa, 64; Ganiyu Malik, 20; and a lady, Ramotu Camara, 47.

According to Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, they were charged with conspiring to conduct a felony involving explosives, deadly devices, handling and using radioactive and nuclear materials, and the propagation of weapons of mass destruction.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Michael Ojeah, had told the court that Camara, Malik and Samasa were facing a five-count.

Ojeah said, “The defendants and others currently at large committed the crime about 7.30 p.m. on January 16, at Aderinola off Dejo-Oyelese Street, Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija Ibadan, Oyo State.”

He said the defendants stored radioactive materials inside a building which exploded and led to the death of a 65-year-old woman known as Bolanle Badmus and 13 others.

The defence counsel, Adeola Adebayo, asked the court for a short adjournment to file some applications.

The prosecutor, however, said, “The offence contravened the provisions of Sections 26, 42 (A) and (B), 43(1) (A) and (2) (C) 1 (A) 58 (1) (A) of the Terrorism, Prohibition and Prevention Act 2022.”

The presiding Judge, Ekerete Akpan of the FHC 2, ordered that they should be remanded in the Agodi Correctional Centre till April 11 for a hearing of their bail applications.

In a statement released after the blast in January, BON Hotel Nest Ibadan stated that its operations manager, Tunde Solomon, passed away due to a heart attack linked to the explosion near the hotel in Bodija. [CONTINUE READING HERE]