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Father Arrested for Allegedly Killing Two-Month-Old Son

A trainee herbalist, Ifagbenga Taiwo, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police for allegedly murdering his 41-day-old son in what is suspected to be a ritualistic killing. The tragic incident took place in the Keesi area of Adatan, Abeokuta, the state capital.

According to reports, the mother of the infant, Raimat Wasilat, left her son lying on a bed inside their home while she went outside to wash clothes. When she returned inside, she was horrified to find her baby’s lifeless body with a slit throat.

A video clip obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday featured a local resident, Mrs. Adewumi, who recounted the shocking discovery. She explained that the mother’s screams for help drew the attention of neighbors, who quickly gathered at the scene. Upon entering the room, it was revealed that the assailant had likely entered through the wooden window, slit the infant’s throat, and left the child in a pool of blood.

Mrs. Adewumi described the scene, saying, “We heard a noise and rushed to the house. It was then we found that someone had entered through the window and killed the baby. The mother had been washing clothes outside, and when she came in, she found her son, only 41 days old, dead.”

Another resident, Mukaila Olaide, who is the infant’s grandfather, also recalled hearing the distressing noise and rushing to the house, where he found the baby’s body. “We were sitting a bit away from the house when we heard the noise. We ran to check and found the boy had been slaughtered. That was all we saw. The police came and took both the mother and father to the station,” he said.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident in a phone interview on Tuesday. She explained that the mother had accused her husband, Ifagbenga Taiwo, of committing the murder, leading to his arrest. According to Odutola, “At around 2:00 p.m., the police received a report about the murder of a two-month-old baby, Ifakorede Ajani, in the room where the mother had placed him on a bed. The mother, Raimat Wasilat, strongly suspected her husband, Ifagbenga Taiwo, who is training to be a herbalist. She believes he intended to use the child’s blood for ritual purposes.”

Odutola confirmed that Taiwo has been detained, and the police have investigated the crime scene. The infant’s body has been sent for autopsy, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to uncover the details of this horrific act.

Farotimi: Police Allege Witness Intimidation, Oppose Bail Application

The legal troubles of lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi continued on Tuesday as the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court in Ado Ekiti remanded him in custody after the police opposed his bail application. The magistrate adjourned the case until December 20 to decide on the bail request, following strong resistance from the police.

Farotimi is facing charges brought by the police for allegedly defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria and legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola in his book titled Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. The police allege that Farotimi has been intimidating witnesses in the case.

Farotimi was arrested last Tuesday in Lagos State and transported to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned the following day. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his initial oral bail application was rejected by Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, who insisted on a formal written application.

Defence Arguments for Bail

At the resumed hearing, Farotimi’s counsel, Taiwo Adedeji, argued that the alleged offence was bailable and that his client should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. He emphasized Farotimi’s unblemished 25-year record as a lawyer, his fixed address, and his willingness to appear in court whenever required.

“The defendant is a lawyer with a fixed address and a name on the roll of legal practitioners of the Supreme Court,” Adedeji stated. “He has undertaken to make himself available whenever needed.”

Adedeji urged the court to disregard the claims in the prosecution’s counter-affidavit and grant his client bail.

Prosecution’s Opposition

However, the police prosecutor, Samson Osodu, vehemently opposed the application, arguing that Farotimi could jump bail and has been intimidating witnesses and complainants via social media. Osodu also alleged that Farotimi had expressed a lack of faith in the judicial system and described the defence’s affidavit as incompetent because it was deposed to by a litigation clerk.

Osodu further opposed the appearance of Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika as part of Farotimi’s defence team.

Adjournment and Public Reaction

After hearing arguments from both sides, Magistrate Adeosun adjourned the ruling on the bail application until December 20. Farotimi remains in custody pending the court’s decision.

Meanwhile, a planned protest by the Take It Back Movement at the Ekiti State Police Command Headquarters failed to materialize. Community leader Chief Michael Osaloni and the Police Public Relations Officer for Ekiti State, Sunday Abutu, had issued strong warnings against any protests. Abutu reiterated that the state remained peaceful and cautioned against any unlawful demonstrations.

Sowore and Obi’s Reactions

Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, criticized the court’s handling of the case and the continued detention of Farotimi. Taking to his X handle, Sowore wrote, “The ruling on @delefarotimi’s bail application was today adjourned till December 20. @DeleFarotimi has been sent back to prison for the next 10 days. See what begging has done? #FreeDeleFarotimiNow.”

Sowore also condemned Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent visit to Afe Babalola in Ado Ekiti to plead for Farotimi’s case, calling it an unjust approach to the activist’s detention.

Conclusion

The case has drawn significant public attention, with supporters calling for Farotimi’s release and critics questioning the police’s motives. The adjournment to December 20 prolongs the legal and emotional ordeal for the activist, his family, and his supporters.