Fadipe’s alleged killer: Unavailability of defence counsel stalls arraignment

THE arraignment of alleged killer of a Lagos-based human rights crusader and community leader, Kunle Fadipe was stalled on Monday before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja due to the unavailability of counsel to defend the suspect, Seun Oladapo.

When the matter came up for hearing, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Idowu Alakija, lead prosecution counsel informed the court of their readiness to go on with the matter but the defendant was not represented by counsel.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye asked the defendant of whereabouts of his counsel.

Oladapo told the court: “ I will call my family, I didn’t know that they would bring me to court today.”

Justice Ipaye, therefore, ordered the DPP to send his case file to the Office of Public Defender (OPD) and notify the office of the adjournment date.

She ordered that defendant should make arrangement for a lawyer, adding that court cannot wait for till eternity.

The judge said, “ because of the nature of the charge against you (defendant), the court cannot wait till eternity. You should make an arrangement for a lawyer but if you cannot afford, you can get one from the Office of Public Defender.

“In order to give him sufficient time to get a lawyer, take the covering letter to the Office of Public Defender, “ Justice Ipaye subsequently adjourned till July 22, 2015 for arraignment and ordered DPP to write OPD and furnish them with the prove of evidence.

Exactly a year ago, Fadipe was stabbed to death on July 3, 2014 by an invader at his mansion in Harmony Estate in Ifako Ijaiye.

It was reported that at about 11.30 p.m. when the estate was plunged into darkness following power outage, the lawyer sent his son to switch on the generating set. And as the boy came out from the house, the assailant who was armed with a knife seized the boy and ordered him to take him to his father.

As soon as the man got to Fadipe, he stabbed him in the neck and back before his daughter ran out of their apartment to call for help.

One of the security guards in the estate rushed in and as the knifeman was trying to snatch the guard’s gun, another guard came in and shot the man on the leg. He was eventually overpowered and arrested. But before then, the man had also stabbed Fadipe’s mother in-law, son and daughter.

The alleged assailant was apprehend by the community vigilance group and charged before Yaba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos before the matter was transferred to the state High Court.