Tag: alleged murder

Former Governor Ekiti State and All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni, on Friday stormed the State High Court in Ado-Ekiti in solidarity with seven party members standing trial for alleged complicity in the murder of former National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman Omolafe Aderiye.

Oni, whose appearance caught party loyalists and family members unawares, entered the High Court 6 where the case was being heard by Justice Lekan Ogunmoye at about 9.40 am when lawyers were locked in hot argument over failure of the prosecution to bring witnesses to give evidence.

There was a massive security build-up within and outside the court premises but Oni’s arrival at the gate elicited applause by party members who saw him before he made his way into the courtroom.

The former governor who is also a governorship aspirant on the platform of his party ahead of the 2018 election, arrived the court with members of his campaign organisation and supporters.

APC members on trial are Adebayo Aderiye (1st defendant), Adeniyi Adedipe (2nd), Sola Durodola (3rd), Ajayi Kayode (4th), Oso Farotimi (5th), Sola Adenijo (6th) and Rotimi Olanbiwonnu (7th).

Justice Ogunmoye was not happy with the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Tafa, for not bringing his witnesses to court as promised on the last day of sitting which he described as a “deliberate action.”

Tafa alleged that one of his witnesses, Yinka Aderiye, was attacked by unknown persons producing the picture and police extract where the incident was reported.

Defence lawyers, Abiodun Fasakin (representing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants), Lekan Olatawura (5th and 7th) and Adetunji Oso (6th) faulted the documents on the ground that the police document was a photocopy while Yinka, in the picture appeared not to be injured.

Oso alleged that Yinka appeared in the photograph “to be changing clothes at a scene location” while Olatawura urged the court to invoke a bench warrant to bring the witnesses. Fasakin accused the

prosecution of resorting to delay tactics.

Defence counsel accused the prosecution of a deliberate plot to keep the defendants in prison custody perpetually, and  urged  the court to consider their bail.

AN Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ijero Ekiti has issued a warrant of arrest against the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Olajide Awe and three others to answer the charge of murder filed against them by the state government.

The three other persons wanted in court are Faboro John Ojo, Aniramu Basiru and Falayi Busuyi.

They are being urged to defend themselves against alleged complicity in the murder of Ayo Jeje and Mrs. Juliana Adewumi in Erijiyan Ekiti on March 30, 2013.

But Awe, who asserted his innocence in the alleged killing, said the charge was politically motivated and brought against him and fellow APC members by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government to silence them and take them out of circulation.

He said the case had earlier been struck out by the court when no prima facie case was established against him and other accused persons.

Justice Bamidele Omotoso, who granted the order on July 25, held that Awe and three other accused persons must be produced in court by the Police on October 5, 2016, when the case comes up for hearing.

According to a copy of warrant of arrest made available to reporters yesterday, Awe, Ojo, Aniramu, Falayi, Sefiu Owonifari and Sola Adenijo are wanted in court in connection with the offence of conspiracy to kill, contrary to Section 324 of Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

The enrollment of order was signed by the judge and one K.A. Adeniyi on behalf of Assistant Chief Registrar of the State High Court.

Only Owonifari and Adenijo were present in court while the first four accused persons were absent. The two accused persons who appeared in court were represented by a team of lawyers led by Ibrahim Olanrewaju.

The warrant of arrest dated July 27, was issued based on the prayer of Counsel to the Ekiti State Government, Yakubu Dauda, who asked the court to invoke Section 94 of the state Administration of Criminal Justice Law to compel the appearances of the accused person before the court.

Justice Omotoso ruled: “Consequently, I hereby invoke the provisions of Section 94 of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ekiti State by ordering that Bench Warrants be issued against the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants to compel their appearances before this court at the next day of adjournment and subsequently to stand for their trial.

“Consequently, this matter is hereby adjourned till October 5, 2016, for hearing.”

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi said: “The court order will be served on the police with immediate effect, hoping that it will be complied with strictly.”

Ajayi, in a letter to the IGP dated July 8, which was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, National Human Rights Commission and the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, decried the refusal of the police to arrest the accused persons despite several requests.

The police in Sokoto State have confirmed the arrest of five mobile policemen (MOPOL) attached to the 7 PMF Command for the alleged murder of a man, Yahaya Shehu.

The deceased was allegedly murdered by the suspects at Teke community in Sabon-Birni Local Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects were alleged to have tortured Shehu, a month ago, when they were on patrol on Isa-Sabon-Birni Road.

It was learnt that the remains of the deceased were found in a nearby bush, the following morning.

He was said to have been arrested for an undisclosed offence with his friend, Bashar Nahantsi, who reportedly escaped.

The duo were said to have been on their way to Teke Market in Sabon-Birni Local Government in neighbouring Zamfara State.

Police Commissioner Salisu Fagge confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

He said: “It is true that the mobile police officers, who were alleged to have killed the deceased, have been arrested by the command.

“They are being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

“I assure the deceased’s family that nobody is above the law. The suspects will be arraigned.

“They will be prosecuted if found guilty.”