Yoruba Nation agitator dies in custody as 27 others appear in court

A member of the Yoruba Nation agitator group, Adejumo Lateef, has died while in custody, according to officials from the Nigeria Correctional Services.

Lateef was the 18th defendant in an ongoing case between the Oyo State Government and 27 individuals associated with the Yoruba Nation movement.

The agitators are facing charges for allegedly invading the Oyo State government secretariat on April 13, 2024, with the intention of declaring a sovereign Yoruba Republic.

The case, numbered I/51c/2024, was brought before the Fiat Court 3 of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, presided over by Justice K.B. Olawoyin.

The defendants, facing charges including conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, unlawful assembly, treasonable felony, and treason, could not all be arraigned due to a lack of legal representation for many of the accused.

The trial was adjourned to November 6, 8, and 13 for further proceedings.