Court sends three suspects to jail over murder of former OGTV staff

A Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, ordered that three suspects be held for 60 days at Oba Correctional Centre. They are accused of killing Ms Kitan Oyesiku, a retired broadcaster with Ogun State Television, and her guard, Pelumi Adetayo. The court will wait for legal advice from the state Directorate of Public Prosecution.

Chief Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo of Court 3 made this decision while reviewing a request from the police regarding the suspects. The police are Sodeinde Olajunwon Phillip, Sobu Obafunsho, and Shakirudeen Ayoola, who were arrested for the murder of Oyesiku and Adetayo.

The legal officer from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, AS Abiodun, told the court that an application dated July 6 asked for a 60-day remand for the suspects. This request was made while waiting for the Director of Public Prosecution to provide advice on how to proceed with the case.

Abiodun explained that this application followed Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Other Matters, Ogun 2017. He also mentioned that the court has the power to do this under its inherent jurisdiction.

He added that a 24-paragraph affidavit was attached to the application, which was signed by ASP Saka from the homicide section of the State CID. Abiodun also said that 17 exhibits and a written address came with the application.

The police officer asked the court to approve the request for the sake of justice. After considering the application, the Chief Magistrate granted what the police requested. The court then set the next hearing for September 10, 2026.

Speaking to reporters, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said, "The suspects have been remanded for 60 days on court order pending the legal advice from the DPP for the continuation of the case."

He added, "The suspects have been brought before the court for the offences committed regarding the killing of Madam Kitan Oyesiku and her security guard, Pelumi. The state police command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, assures everyone that justice will be served. No stone will be left unturned to ensure that justice is truly served in this matter."

Recall that Ms Oyesiku and her guard, Adetayo, were found dead in a pool of blood at her home in Agodo last June. PUNCH Metro reported earlier that the police started investigating after residents raised concerns about strange activities at the deceased's house.

Detectives who visited the scene reportedly found signs of forced entry. They discovered Adetayo’s body at the security post. Oyesiku’s body was later found inside the house. Her Lexus RX330 vehicle, which was reported missing, was later recovered during the investigation.

At a press conference, Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni said investigators made progress after finding a note in the stolen vehicle. This note was examined for forensic evidence, which led to the arrest of the main suspect.

According to the CP, the main suspect, Sodeinde Olajuwon Philip, 22, was arrested on June 24 at a construction site in Ibara, Abeokuta, where he was working. Further investigations led to the arrest of two other suspects: Shakirudeen Abdulraheem Ayoola, 27, a security guard, and Sobu Obafunsho, 36, a bricklayer.

Ojajuni stated that Philip allegedly admitted to planning the attack due to issues he had with Oyesiku while working as her guard. He claimed the murder was meant to “teach her a lesson.”

The police also claimed that the suspects overpowered Adetayo to enter Oyesiku’s home, where both victims were killed. The stolen Lexus RX330 was later found through smart tracking in the Onikolobo area of Ogun State.

The police recovered other items linked to the suspects, including a broken hammer, a cutlass, a plank, and a black pen.