Ekiti Murder Trial: Monarch Falls Sick, Absent from Court
The arraignment of the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, before a Magistrate’s Court for alleged murder was stalled on Monday due to the absence of the monarch on account of ill health.
The monarch and five others were remanded in prison custody on December 27 by the court. The other accused persons were, however, present in court.
Others charged with the Olukere on a remand order filed by the Commissioner of Police are Ajewole Sunday, Adetowoju Bode, Kayode Michael, Olowolafe Tola and Aluko Taiwo.
A prison officer, Mr. O. Osamuyiwa, told the court that the Olukere was “seriously sick” and on admission at the prison clinic.
He told the court that Obasoyin was to be referred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti for further medical attention.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gbemiga Adaramola, told the court that the state was taking over the prosecution of the case from the police.
He sought an adjournment to render the necessary legal advice.
The counsel for the accused persons, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, opposed the reading of the charge in the absence of the Olukere.
Before adjourning the case till January 19, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. Dupe Afeniforo, ordered that the accused persons should be remanded in prison custody.
Olukere and others were charged in connection with the violence which erupted shortly after the opening of his hotel located in the Gbemisola area of the town on December 22.
It was learnt that some thugs attacked the hotel on December 25 because the monarch said Ikere had yet to have a candidate for the 2018 governorship election.
The Deputy Governor, Kolapo Olusola, an indigene of the town, had been anointed as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Obasoyin’s loyalists allegedly attacked those identified as the perpetrators of the violence, which claimed the life of one Kolade Adefemi.
According to the remand order form marked, MAD/181fk/17, the accused persons were charged with conspiracy, attempted murder of Ayodele Osanyinbola and murder of Kolade Adefemi.
The offences are punishable under sections (1) and 319 (1) of Criminal Code Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
A human rights lawyer and Ikere indigene, Morakinyo Ogele, expressed dismay that the matter had been “politicised.”
Ogele faulted the DPP’s bid to take over the case, saying, “His advice is going to be affected by bias.”
He said, “There is no way the accused persons will get reasonable legal advice from the Ministry of Justice. I wonder whether the Ministry of Justice has become a robot in the hands of the state government.”
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