Magistrate Court remands Artists for recording obscene video in Osun-Osogbo shrine

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo.An Osun Magistrate court sitting in Osogbo, the state capital, on Monday, ordered the remand of six accused persons for allegedly recording obscene publication at Osun-Osogbo shrine.The accused are Tobiloba Isaac Jolaoso (27), Ladiva Aije (22), Juliet Semion (24), Ahmed Olasunkanmi (23), Adeniran Eritosin (29), and Tunde Jimoh (27).Police prosecutor, Idoko John, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on or about July 25, 2020 at (about) 12:30pm at Osun-Osogbo shrine, Osogbo.Idoko alleged that the accused persons did act a drama or film, which appeared on the face of it to bear pornographic picture of young girls who were half dressed and thereafter published or sent for public consumption.He further said that the accused persons did conspire among themselves to act at the Osun-Osogbo traditional and religious ground and  commit a misdemeanor to wit: insult to religion.He disclosed that the accused persons unlawfully damaged  window louvers of the police station.Prosecutor stated that the offence committed by the accused persons was contrary to and punishable under 516,233,517,451 Cap 34 Vol ll Law of Osun state 2002.The six accused persons pleaded not guilty to the allegations preferred against them.One of the accused told the court that they went to the shrine for excursion and they only took pictures.Defence Counsel, Tunbosun Oladipupo, applied for the bail of the  accused persons  in most liberal terms, saying that the alleged offences were bailable. But the prosecutor opposed the bail application by the defence counsel on the grounds that the scene of the crime was an international worship ground, claming that the act would  tarnish the image of the religion.He said further that the accused persons were not residents of Osogbo and their location was not known by the  police and one of them was a Cameroonian.He said if they were granted bail they were likely to cause a breach of peace and order of the state and  they could commit similar offence.In his ruling, Magistrate Isola Omisade ordered the remand of the six accused persons in Ilesa correctional center.He adjourned the matter till September 17, 2020 for ruling on bail.