28
Ibadan on Wednesday, August 6, where he was formally arraigned for allegedly issuing threats against the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke. The alleged incident was said to have taken place on July 12 in Ibadan.
Gafar is facing a three-count charge bordering on making death threats, threatening the life of a sitting governor, and engaging in conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
During the court proceedings, the prosecutor, Mr. Matthew Ojei, explained that the defendant had used his social media accounts to send out messages containing threats to the governor’s life. Ojei further noted that such actions were not only unlawful but also capable of inciting unrest and disturbing public order within the state and beyond.
The prosecutor emphasized that Gafar’s conduct violated Sections 249(D) and 323 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000, which deal with threats to life, public peace, and related offenses. He stressed that the charges were serious in nature as they involved the safety and security of a democratically elected governor.
When the charges were read, the accused entered a plea of not guilty. His defense counsel, Mr. Marvelous Ojeleye, urged the court to consider granting his client bail on the most liberal and favorable terms, arguing that the defendant was presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2.5 million. She further directed that the bail must be secured by two sureties in the same amount. According to the conditions, one of the sureties must be a landowner with verifiable property documents within the jurisdiction of the court, while the second must be a close blood relative of the defendant.
Magistrate Ogunkanmi also stressed the importance of strict compliance with the bail conditions, warning that failure to meet the requirements would result in the continued detention of the defendant. She subsequently adjourned the matter until November 13 for further hearing.
The case has since attracted public interest, as it involves threats to the life of Governor Adeleke, who has been the chief executive of Osun State since 2022.
