The Nigerian Correctional Services has reportedly refused to admit the four suspects linked with the murder of Olufunke Olakunrin, daughter of the 94-year-old leader of Afenifere, Reuben Fasoranti back to custody, based on the order of the court remanding them pending their trial.
The suspects were arrested by the police in April after several months of investigations by the security agency.
They are Lawal Mazaje from the Felele area of Kogi State, Adamu Adamu from Jada area of Adamawa State, Mohammed Usman from Illela area of Sokoto State, and Auwal Abubakar from Shinkafi area of Zamfara State.
Mrs Olakunrin was murdered in July last year in Ondo State by a gang of marauding gunmen.
Although they were said to be eight in number, only four of them were arrested and were on April 24, arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
They were promptly remanded in prison by the court at the Owo Correctional Centre, pending their trial but had to be tested for COVID-19.
The Ondo State Disease Control team carried out the test and one of them, Adamu Adamu, who tested positive for the virus.
He was isolated for treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Akure where he was reported to have attempted an escape, but was prevented by the police.
Although he had been treated and along with his three accomplices, ready for a return to the correctional centre in Owo, prison officials have reportedly rejected them over COVID-19 fears.
Premium Times reports that the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, during his weekly COVID-19 briefing on Monday, expressed his fears on the refusal of the service to admit the suspects to remand after certifying they were free of the virus.
The implications of leaving murder suspects who are not under medical treatment at large can be better imagined.
“I hereby call on the authorities of the Nigeria Correctional Services to immediately receive the suspects into custody as directed by the law court.” The Governor said.
According to reports, Sources close to the service indicates that an earlier order issued by the Ministry of Interior, cautioning against further taking into custody of inmates in the wake of the pandemic is the reason the Controller of the Ondo facility is hesitant.
It was also gathered that there are fears the bringing in of the suspects could expose the facility to the dreaded virus.
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