Two suspects accused of killing a popular socialite, Sunday Bayo, best known as ‘Saybayo’, have been arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Oke Eda in Akure, Ondo State capital.

The state police command had arrested the suspects, Atinuke Adeniyi, 29 and Isaac Ade-Ojo, 50, a fortnight ago after the corpse of Mr Bayo, 45, was found in Ijapo Estate, a popular private residential area in Akure.

Mr Bayo was first declared missing by his family and friends in December until his corpse was found in his black tinted vehicle. This led to the arrest of both Ms Atinuke and Mr Ade-Ojo. 

The suspects, arraigned on Saturday, were slammed with five count charges by the police. 

A copy of the charge sheet read, “On the 10th day of December 2023, at about 11:30 a.m. at Life Sustainer Guest House, Ijapo Estate Akure, in the Akure Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit perversion of justice and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 126 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”

They were accused of committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section of the Criminal Code Cap.37 Vol.1 Law of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006. 

Both, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the police. 

Wada Simeon, the police prosecutor, urged the court to remand the suspects in the correctional centre at Olokuta in Akure pending further investigation. 

But A.O Afolabi, the counsel to the first defendant, Ms Adeniyi, quickly presented an application for his client’s bail, saying she would be present in the court on every hearing date.

Also, Stephen Ademuagun, a counsel to the second defendant, Mr Ade-Ojo, also prayed the court on notice for the application of bail for his client. 

Mr Ademuagun said if his client were granted bail, he would not jump the “grace” issued to him by the court.

However, the prosecutor did not object to the applications for the defendants’ bail.

Chief Magistrate Damilola Sekoni adjourned the case for ruling on bail applications until January 29, 2024. The magistrate ordered that the two accused persons be kept in custody. 

However, the counsels to the accused quickly pleaded with the magistrates to keep their clients in police custody, pending the ruling on their applications.  

The Ondo police spokeswoman, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, had said the popular socialie died after a sex romp with his mistress at a brothel in Ijapo Estate.

In a statement, Mrs Odunlami-Omisanya said detectives from the special weapons and tactics team arrested Ms Adeniyi (his mistress), who had an affair with the deceased.