Orowole was alleged to have committed the offences on July 2nd, 2019, when he conspired with others at large to raise false allegations and criminally defamed a former registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Dr Ogunleye Oladele Alhassan.
Delivering her final judgement, magistrate Daramola sentenced Mr Orowole to two years imprisonment with hard labour for the second and the third counts of conspiracy and illegal possession of firearms, while he is to serve a three-year jail term for the third count of false accusation and criminal defamation concurrently with an option of a fifty thousand naira fine for each count.
Magistrate Daramola predicated her leniency on the fact that the convict, who is a first offender, is a single father with a three-year-old daughter.
Recalled that the prosecutor, Mr Abiodun Badiora, in his charge sheet, claims that Orowole Adekunle Rotimi, a native of Ile Ife, conspired with other people to raise false allegations against the complaint, leading to his being charged with illegal possession of a firearm, knowing that Dr Ogunleye is innocent of the alleged offences, a conduct contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 34 Laws of Osun State 2022.
Speaking shortly after the judgement, Dr Ogunleye Oladele Alhassan said the verdict had not only exonerated him but had also renewed his confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Speaking with an emotion-laden voice, he expressed his gratitude to the Nigeria Police, the judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, and the state government for not interfering with the case.
In a twist of events, Orowole was re-arraigned before the same court on a two-count charge of escape from lawful custody and attempted murder.
The prosecutor, Inspector Anifowose Saheed, in his charge sheet, alleged that the convict attempted to strangle one Mrs Babatunde Omotayo, a police corporal attached to Magistrate Daramola of Osogbo Magistrate Court 6, when the officer escorted him to ease himself in at the back of the Court 2 building shortly after he was convicted on February 18, 2025.
Defendant counsel, Mr D.A. Oyewale, prayed the court to grant the suspect bail.
Mr Balogun opposed the bail application, stating that it will jeopardise the hearing of the matter if the suspect is granted bail because he had allegedly made a similar attempt in 2022.
Magistrate Ayilara adjourned the case to May 8, 2025, granting the accused bail in the sum of 2 million with a surety who has landed property in Osogbo.
