The Kwara State High Court, sitting in Ilorin, has discharged and acquitted 82-year-old High Chief Olowofela Oyebanji of all criminal allegations related to kidnapping and murder. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by Justice Umar Zikki Jubril, who upheld a no case submission from the defense counsel after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him and 13 other defendants.
Chief Olowofela, a respected traditional ruler in Igbara-Odo, Ekiti State, faced serious charges that included criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, kidnapping, and giving false information under Sections 97, 221, and 178 of the Penal Code Law and the Special Prohibition Kidnapping Law of Kwara State (2010). These charges stemmed from the tragic killing of Oba Aremu Olusegun Cole, the Olukoro of Koro, Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State.
Justice Zikki ruled that the prosecution failed to provide substantial and compelling evidence to implicate Chief Olowofela and his co-defendants in the alleged crimes. As a result, the court declared their innocence beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted them accordingly.
Following the ruling, Dr. Solomon Afolabi, counsel to Chief Olowofela, expressed immense satisfaction and praised the court’s courage in upholding justice despite the sensitive nature and high public interest in the case. He lamented the ordeal faced by his client since February 2024, noting that the charges were a result of random arrests rather than credible allegations.
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Another defense counsel noted that although the prosecution called five witnesses, the evidence presented was insufficient to meet the threshold for conviction. The court’s decision, they added, was a significant contribution to criminal jurisprudence in Nigeria, reinforcing the principle of fair trial.
The case brought attention once again to the importance of rigorous evidence and due diligence in criminal prosecutions, especially in cases involving high-profile individuals and sensitive crimes. Chief Olowofela and the other defendants have now been set free, marking an end to a lengthy and challenging legal battle