Seven suspects accused of setting ablaze the house of a traditional priestess, popularly known as Toyin Asabi Olorisa, were on Friday arraigned before a court in Ilorin.
The defendants are Alhaji Yekini Oloruntele, Alhaji Saliu Usman, Garba Amuda Yusuf, Alhaji Mumini Showa, Imam Isiaq Raji, Alhaji Saliu Abubakar AbdulMumini Muhamed, and others currently at large.
The suspects were brought before Justice Mahmud Gafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, on Friday, January 23.
Recall that on January 1, 2026, reports emerged that the residence of the traditional priestess, Toyin Asabi Olorisa, was razed by fire. A few days later, the police announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the incident.
Asabi Olorisa initiated the court action through her counsel, Abdulmumeen Busari, of the Kwara State Ministry of Justice.
Proceedings in Court
At the commencement of proceedings, the court read the charges against the seven defendants individually.
The charge stated that on January 1, 2026, the accused persons — alongside others still at large — conspired to commit an unlawful act by deliberately setting fire to a residential building belonging to Toyin Asabi Olorisa, which was subsequently destroyed by the fire. The prosecution added that the offence is punishable under Nigerian law.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Counsel to the complainant urged the court to remand the defendants in a government correctional facility. However, defence counsel I.F. Yusuf, representing the accused, opposed the application.
Court’s Ruling
After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Mahmud Gafar ruled that since the police had earlier granted the defendants bail, the court would also admit them to bail.
The judge granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦2.5 million, with one surety each, and adjourned the case to March 26, 2026, for further hearing.
‘Traditional Worshippers Bought a House for Me’ — Asabi Olorisa
Speaking with journalists after the court session, Asabi Olorisa expressed gratitude to traditional worshippers for their support.
She revealed that they had purchased a house for her, saying: “The traditional worshippers stood by me and bought a house for me, so that I would not be left homeless.”
