Man To Celebrate Christmas Behind Bars For Alleged Destruction Of Election Materials In Ekiti
A 37-year-old man, Awoyelu Rotimi, will celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities in prison custody for allegedly destroying some election materials meant for the 4 December, 2021 local council election held in Ekiti State.
The accused, whose address was not given, was, on Thursday, ordered to be remanded in the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre by an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Oriyomi Akinwale, the defendant committed the offence on 4 December, 2021 in Erijiyan-Ekiti.
He accused the defendant of having committed an offence of malicious damage and terrorism by allegedly snatching and setting ablaze boxes and papers during local government election in Erijiyan-Ekiti.
Akinwale told the court that one of the victims who made statement with police said the defendant led some group of thugs around 9:00a.m to the polling nooth and chased away all the officers of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) who were on ground to conduct the election.
He added that the accused also chases away party agents and others and destroyed all election materials and voting boxes before setting them ablaze.
According to the police prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 11(a) of the Kidnap and Terrorism (Prohibition) Law of Ekiti State, 2012.
He therefore urged the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre, pending legal advice from the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The plea of the defendant was not taken as the Chief Magistrate, Mr Saka Afunso, ordered the remand of the defendant, pending issuance of legal advice and adjouned the case till 20 January, 2022 for mention.
