Adegoke’s murder: Osun CJ laments as trial stalls for fourth time in row
26 October 2022 |
3:56 am
Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, yesterday, lamented recurring delays in the trial of owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Rahmon Adedoyin, and six of his workers over the murder of Timothy Adegoke
Late Adegoke
Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, yesterday, lamented recurring delays in the trial of owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Rahmon Adedoyin, and six of his workers over the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The trial slated for continuation yesterday at Osun State High Court, Osogbo, was stalled for the fourth time following the absence of Adedoyin.
Adedoyin and six others, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola were remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre since March over alleged murder of Adegoke, among other offences preferred against them by the Federal Government.
At inception, Justice Ojo had assured parties and members of the public that the court would adjudicate the matter within six months. However, seven months later, the trial is yet to be concluded.
When the matter came up yesterday for the adoption of written addresses and ruling on the application by the prosecutor, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for the amendment of the charge, the matter could not go ahead as the first defendant (Adedoyin) was absent in court, while other defendants were present.
The prosecuting counsel, Fatima Adeshina, who represented Falana, told the court that she was informed by an official of the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Ilesa, that the first defendant was sick, hence they couldn’t bring him to court.
Responding, the defence counsel said they could not go on since Adedoyin was absent and asked the trial judge for an adjournment.
Expressing displeasure over unnecessary delay of the matter Justice Ojo threatened to transfer the matter to another judge or grant bail to the defendants, if parties continue to evade attendance and stall proceedings.
The judge said she had to cut short her trip to America to attend proceedings, stressing that her days in the bench are numbered and wouldn’t tolerate further adjournment.
She said: “It’s very unfortunate that this case is taking this long and I will have to transfer it to another judge. We all know the implications when it’s transferred. I must say that all counsel in the matter must sit up because I have my rulings already. It’s either I grant them (defendants) bail or I transfer the case to another judge.”
The judge said she would adjourn the matter for the last time for ruling on the applications and written addresses, and subsequently adjourned the matter to November 7 and 8.
Recall that the trial experienced a third delay due to the public holiday declared by the Federal Government to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Mawlid celebration on Monday, October 10.
It was first stalled on July 14, 2022, because of the absence of Ojo. On July 21, the trial was stalled for the second time, due to the failure of parties to file their written addresses.
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