Disquiet over murder of star witness in Osun land dispute

The gruesome murder of 75-year-old Akannare of Ile-Ido Ife, Osun State, High Chief Moses Elutilo, at a meeting venue in Ile Ife by masked gunmen on Monday has begun to brew disquiet in the zone.

The deceased had reportedly received a phone call at about 8:00a.m. on the fateful day asking him to attend the meeting around 10:00a.m. on Ondo Road.

A source said the late septuagenarian was offering the parley’s opening prayer when the assailants stormed the venue.“As soon as he stood up to pray, he was immediately attacked by the masked men who hit him with dangerous weapons and smashed his head,” he added.

Efforts to save his life proved abortive as he was confirmed dead at the hospital due to excessive loss of blood.It was however, gathered, that the departed chieftaincy title holder and a revered personage in the community, was the only star witness in a land dispute suit before Justice A. A. Onibokun of the State High Court, Ile-Ife division.

His death was communicated to the court by counsel to the plaintiff when the matter, involving Ido Reformation Committee Versus Dr. E. B. Makusota and Prophet Sunday Oyebode (a.k.a. King Solomon), came up for hearing yesterday.

The counsel, Albert Okuovara, informed the court that the star and only witness in the case had since been murdered on Monday.Justice Onibokun, consequently, adjourned the case till July 13, 2016 to enable the plaintiff put its house in order to facilitate continuation of the case.

Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, who confirmed the murder, assured that the police authorities would do everything possible to unravel the dastardly murder.