No fewer than 25 suspected killers of Alex Timileyi, a 200-level engineering student at Ajayi Crowther University who was clubbed to death by his colleagues on May 24, 2023, over a claim that he stole a mobile phone, were arraigned on Wednesday before the Chief Magistrate in Oyo State.
This was continued in a court document obtained by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday.
Timileyi was allegedly beaten on May 24 until he passed away inside a hostel known as Shepherd Inn on the school premises by the suspects. The deceased was also said to have had his hair forcefully shaved by his assailants after he was reportedly caught with the stolen mobile phone.
Following the incident, the management announced the expulsion of some of the students believed to have taken part in the crime and subsequently handed them over to the police in the state for prosecution.
An X.com user, “Lord of Warri,” who claimed to be a relative of the deceased, had earlier petitioned the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, urging him to ensure that those behind the alleged murder were brought to justice.
However, in an update to the sad tale on X.com on Wednesday, the activist expressed his appreciation to the Oyo State authorities for pursuing the case.
Along with the appreciation note were documents bearing the names of the students, as well as the details of the court where the case was being heard.
He wrote, “Today, June 5, 25 students were arraigned in court in connection with the tragic murder of Prince Alex Timileyin, a son of the Warri Kingdom and a student at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo.
“The court has remanded them in prison until July 8, pending trial.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Oyo State Government and the Oyo State Police Command in pursuing justice and ensuring that the perpetrators are held accountable.
“We await the trial and expect that justice will be served in its entirety.”
Some of the counts found in the document partly read, “That you, OLADOYE FEMI OLA M’ and KEHINDE OLABUSUYI MARTINS M’, on the 24th day of May, 2024, at about 9:00 p.m., at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo in the Oyo Magisterial District triable in the Ibadan Magisterial District, conspired with one another to commit felony to wit: acceleration of death and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.
“That you, OLADOYE FEMI OLA ‘M’ and KEHINDE OLABUSUYI MARTINS M’., on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, being the security guard and Porter employed by the University, unlawfully omitted to rescue one AKRO JEFRY ‘M’ AGE 22YRS from other aggrieved students who beat him to death and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.”
The varsity had yet to issue any further statements on the matter.
Also, a PUNCH Metro source in the state police command could neither confirm nor deny the news as of the time this report was filed.