Ondo judiciary probes alleged imprisonment of suspect without trial

The Ondo State Judiciary has disclosed that an investigative panel to unravel the imprisonment of a suspect without trial by a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ile-Oluji has been set up.

While expressing worry over the backlash the development has generated in the state, the Chief Registrar of the state judiciary, Yetunde Ajanaku, called for calm as the issue is being looked into.

The Chief Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Tope Aladejana, had convicted and sentenced one Benjamin Andrew to three years imprisonment for stealing cocoa on a farm in Ile-Oluji, headquarters of Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of the state.

The Magistrates’ Court, which was said to have convicted Andrew without conducting a trial, did so even after the suspect pleaded not guilty to the three-count.

In a statement issued and signed by Ajanaku, she stated: “The Ondo State Judiciary has taken note of a recent judicial pronouncement delivered by an Ondo State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Oluji on August 12, 2024, in the case with Charge No. MIL/25C/2024, Commissioner of Police (COP) versus Benjamin Andrew, in which the purported Certified True Copies of this judgement have become the subject of extensive online discussions and public scrutiny.

“The Ondo State Judiciary is deeply concerned about this development, and the Honourable Chief Judge has promptly launched a meticulous investigation to verify the authenticity of the Certified True Copies of the judgement, as well as to thoroughly examine the circumstances leading to the pronouncement, should the judgement be duly authenticated.

“This action aims to ensure that court proceedings and practices in the state strictly adhere to the letter and spirit of the applicable laws and established judicial conventions.

“The Ondo State Judiciary hereby reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to the sacred cause of justice while acknowledging the inherent possibility of human error and occasional oversights.

“We respectfully appeal for calm and composed deliberation as we diligently work to resolve the issues that have arisen in this matter.”