A Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday ordered the remand of three suspects accused of murdering retired Ogun State Television broadcaster, Kitan Oyesiku, and her security guard, Pelumi Adetayo.

Chief Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo of Court 3 directed that the suspects — Sodeinde Olajunwon Phillip, Sobu Obafunsho and Shakirudeen Ayoola — be remanded at the Oba Correctional Centre for 60 days pending legal advice from the Ogun State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The order followed an ex parte application filed by the police seeking the suspects’ remand while investigations and prosecution processes continue.

Counsel for the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), A.S. Abiodun, told the court that the application, dated July 6, was brought under Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ogun State, 2017.

He said the application was supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an officer attached to the homicide section of the State CID, along with 17 exhibits and a written address.

Abiodun urged the court to grant the request in the interest of justice.

Oyesiku and Adetayo were found dead at the broadcaster’s residence in Agodo, Abeokuta, in June after residents reportedly alerted the police to suspicious activities in the area.

Police detectives who visited the scene reportedly discovered signs of forced entry and a struggle. Adetayo’s body was found at the security post, while Oyesiku’s corpse was later recovered inside the house.

Her Lexus RX330 vehicle, which was initially reported missing, was subsequently recovered during the investigation.

Speaking earlier on the case, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, said investigators made a breakthrough after recovering a note inside the stolen vehicle, which was subjected to forensic examination and led to the arrest of the prime suspect.

According to the police, Phillip, 22, was arrested on June 24 at a construction site in the Ibara area of Abeokuta, where he was working as a labourer.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Ayoola, 27, a security guard, and Obafunsho, 36, a bricklayer.

Police alleged that Phillip confessed to planning the attack over grievances stemming from his previous employment as Oyesiku’s security guard, claiming he wanted to “teach her a lesson.”

Investigators further alleged that the suspects overpowered Adetayo before using him to gain access to Oyesiku’s residence, where both victims were killed.

The police said the stolen Lexus RX330 was later recovered through intelligence-led and technical tracking operations in the Onikolobo area of Ogun State.

Items recovered during the investigation include a broken hammer, a cutlass, a plank and a black pen, which police said were linked to the suspects.

(Photo Credit: Punch Newspapers)