Thirteen men were on Tuesday arraigned before an Akure Magistrate’s Court over their alleged involvement in the bloody congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Idanre, Ondo State, which claimed lives.

The defendants: Daniel Victor, 30; John Sunday, 49; Gregory Emmanuel, 25; Ajiboye Ogundele, 36; Jerry Michael, 35; Olamilekan Jegede, 25; Ifedayo Fatukasi, 38; Adeusi Agunbiade, 38; John Dele, 28; Samuel Babatuyi, 38; Abass Jerome, 30; Eze Michael, 55, and Monday Ojo, 25, were arraigned on four counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

According to the prosecutor, ASP Owolabi Edu, the defendants and others at large allegedly conspired to commit the offences on February 18, 2026, at about 9:30 a.m. at Idanre within the Ondo State Magisterial District.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendants shot two persons, Tope Robert and Akinade Olawole, with guns, resulting in their deaths.

They were also accused of unlawfully setting ablaze a 2014 Toyota Corolla car belonging to one Engr Adetimehin and conducting themselves in a manner likely to disrupt the peace of the community.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, are contrary to Sections 316, 319, 433 and 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Edu urged the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Facility pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In support of the application, the prosecutor relied on a nine-ground application backed by a seven-paragraph verified affidavit deposed to by one Inspector Funmilayo Okeyinka.

Responding, counsel to the defendants, led by Adelanke Akinranta, urged the court to grant bail to all the accused persons.

Akinranta alleged that the police deliberately withheld the complainants’ statements from the court because they purportedly contained the names of the actual perpetrators.

He argued that the two complainants had stated that the 13 suspects were innocent of the allegations.

He further urged the court to order the arrest of the individuals allegedly mentioned in the statements, insisting that remanding the defendants would amount to injustice, as the prosecution had not sufficiently linked the request for remand to any specific legal provision warranting the court’s discretion.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs. Temitope Adurota, requested the case file for proper perusal to determine whether there was probable cause to remand the defendants.

She adjourned the matter till March 5 for ruling on the remand application and ordered that the defendants should remain in police custody pending the ruling.

The Hope