Crime

Slained OAU Student: Court Adjourns Trial

By Web News 755

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, and the government of Osun state have taken over the prosecution of a murder case involving the owner of Hilton hotel and resort, Ile-Ife, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin and six staff of the hotel.

The case had been adjourned to Monday, April 25 to enable the defendants open their defense.

At the resume hearing in Osogbo, Mr Femi Falana announced appearance and told the court that he had secured the permission of the Attorney General of the state to take over the prosecution from the police.

But, counsel to the 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants, Abdur-Rasheed Muritala SAN, insisted that Attorney General must take over the matter from the police who were prosecuting the matter from inception before he could transfer the matter to any other person.

The counsel also said the Administrator-General and Public Trustee in the state Ministry of Justice, Mr Abiodun Badiora, could not take over the matter.

After some argument, Mr Falana re-announced his appearance with Mr Badiora and a Chief State Counsel, Mr Moses Faremi as prosecutor for the case.

Counsel to the first defendant, Adedoyin, Mr Kunle Eleja SAN, told the court that his client had no witness to call in his defence, since he had made a no case Submission.

But, Muritala SAN said he could not prepare his witness because one of his clients slumped in court and would need to take care of her health.

The counsel who also stood for Rowland Otaru SAN to represent the 3rd and 5th defendants urged the court to adjourn the matter.

The presiding judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, thereby adjourned the case to May 25 for further hearing.

Earlier, there was confusion during the sitting in as the second defendant slumped moments after she was called into the dock.

It took the intervention of the court clerk, warders and some observers in the court to recuscitate her and averted what seemed like an unfolding tragedy.

Chief Rahaman Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna (24), Adeniyi Aderogba (37), Oluwale Lawrence (37), Oyetunde Kazeem (38), Adebayo Kunle (35) and Adedeji Adesola (23), were arraigned on March 3 on 11 count charges bothering on conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke, conspiracy to commit a felony, dumping of the body of Adegoke, conspiracy to improperly and indecently interfere with the body of Adegoke, conspiracy to alter receipt, altering and cancelling of receipt and administering of extra-judicial oath in connection with the killings.

Adenitan Akinola

Judiciary

Sylvester Oromoni: Dowen College Doctor Gives Evidence

By Web News 516

A Medical Doctor working with Dowen College, Mojisola Bisiriyu has narrated to Coroner’s Court that a 12-year-old student of the college, Sylvester Oromoni Junior has no medical history.

Dr Bisiriyu disclosed this before Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri in an ongoing inquest to unravel the cause of the death of Oromoni Junior.

The school’s lawyer, Mr Anthony Kpokpo led her in Evidence-in-Chief and tendered her statement on oath before she was cross-examined.

While she was being cross-examined by the Oromoni family lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the school’s doctor explained that she was in charge of the school’s sickbay.

She explained that the deceased came limping to complain of pain in his right thigh and that the boy was not taken to the partner hospital, Lifeline Children Hospital, Lekki.

“The deceased has no leg injury. I asked the nurse to massage his right thigh. He did not complain about the leg. I handed him over to the resident nurse, Omobola Kayode. The massage improves his condition.”

“I am very aware that he was in school till November 23, 2021. On November 21, I ordered the nurse to massage him. I am not on duty on November 23. When I saw him (the deceased), he was still in pain, waiting for his guardian to come and pick him up.”

According to the school doctor, she only referred emergency cases to the hospital, pointing out that the case of the deceased did not merit taking him to the hospital.

“As a school policy, every parent must be told before taking their child to the hospital, especially in the COVID-19 period, parent don’t want their child to be taken to any hospital.” 

She further told court that she advised the parent to take him to the hospital, but she did not give them a referral note.

Wahab Akinlade