Four men have been arraigned in Abuja for the m3rder of Irewole LGA chairman Remi Abass.
They face terrorism, firearms, and homicide charges and have been remanded until December 4.
Four men suspected of involvement in the k!lling of the late Chairman of Irewole Local Government Area in Osun State, Remi Abass, were on Wednesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants Abubakar Kabiru (popularly called Jeje, 38), Tajudeen Opeyemi (30), Akeem Agbomojo (28), and Akintoye Olayemi (40) all from Ikire and Apomu in Osun State, appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. They were accused of terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and the m3rder of Abass, who was k!lled on February 17, 2024, in Ikire.
The prosecution, led by A. S. Oyeyemi on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, faced off against defence counsel Sunday Adebayo, while Muhydeen Adeoye represented the family of the deceased as watching brief counsel.
According to the amended three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/170/2025, the defendants were alleged to have conspired to carry out acts of terrorism in several communities across Osun State, an offence punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
They were also accused of unlawful possession of three pump-action rifles, contrary to the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, 2004, and of participating in the m3rder of Hon. Remi Abass, contrary to Sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code Act.
All four defendants pleaded not guilty. Justice Abdulmalik ordered their remand at the Kuje Custodial Centre and adjourned the case until December 4, 2025, for hearing, as agreed by both parties.
The k!lling of Abass has been tied to long-standing political rivalry between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the control of local government councils in Osun State.
In 2022, the APC government under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola conducted local council elections that were boycotted by the PDP, which challenged them as unconstitutional. When Senator Ademola Adeleke assumed office as governor, he dissolved the councils and installed caretaker committees.
However, a February 2025 Court of Appeal ruling reinstated the elected APC council officials, sparking violent clashes across several local councils. In Irewole, the confrontation between rival supporters reportedly led to the de@th of Abass and others.
Following the incident, police investigations led to the arrest and arraignment of the four suspects. An earlier case involving seven accused persons, including one Jide Jooda, was discontinued after one defendant died in custody.
The trial resumes on December 4, 2025.
