By Christopher Oji
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ogun State, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, has emphasized the need for proper justice and protection of human rights in the investigation and prosecution of all cases in the state.
The Ogun AG also stated that his only interest in the ongoing investigation by policemen of Zone 2 Police Command, in the killing of one person in Osuke, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, was justice.
He also decried the activities of land grabbers in the state, who, according to him, have the habit of going to any length, including misinforming the security agencies, to implicate their competitors.
Ogungbade also denied any personal interest in the alleged murder case involving Elijah Adeogun and four other persons, who are in detention in Abuja for investigation.
Ogungbade said he took interest in the case based on the fact that Elijah Adeogun was some years ago arrested and detained for three months over trumped-up allegations and charges.
He said he personally facilitated Elijah’s arrest by operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and his proper investigation.
The AG noted that he had to discontinue the case because investigations revealed that the allegation was put up over a land tussle.
Ogungbade told journalists: “I don’t have any personal interest in the fellow you mentioned. You see, as prosecutor, you can only go ahead with the prosecution when you are fully convinced that the accused persons has committed the alleged offence.
“But if you have a doubt or you are not sure, you don’t file charges against such a person. When reports first came to me about the fellow, I worked with the DSS that arrested him, where he spent three months before he was charged to court.
“When I heard again about another murder, because the first time, my reputation was at stake, I became interested in the matter again. This was a person that was arrested, detained for three months and charged to court. I don’t want him to be detained over trumped-up allegations again.”
The commissioner stressed that he “got briefing from the police and the allegation against the fellow was that he led a second attack. When police at the divisional level investigated the matter, and the Area Command reported at Eleweranyhe State Command, it was discovered that he was still in court during the attack.
“They applied for proceedings of the sitting and they got it to show where he was during the attack.
“It was also discovered that the man who said his son was killed was never related to the deceased at all.
“Again, somebody came with a cast that he was shot. It was also gathered that nobody was injured at the scene.
“At that point, the police then told those who reported that they may end up being charged for giving false information and they left. That was when Zone 2 took over the investigation.
“I want to tell you that we have had a recurring problem, because of large size of the land in Ogun State. There are a lot of disputes.
“The problem was that police in Ogun State would investigate halfway and then the case would be transferred elsewhere.
“The governor was even aware of the problem and complained to the former IGP, Alkali, and, based on that, he gave a directive that nobody should transfer cases from the state again.
“When Egbetokun came, some people saw it as an opportunity to return to their old ways and went back to the era of taking cases out of the state.”
Ogungbade said that Nigeria has progressed in the area of protection of people’s rights, “on paper.”
“When I say on paper, one of the innovations to stop police holding people endlessly is something that was put in the Criminal Justice of Ogun State and even in the act of the federation.
“It is that when police say that they are investigating, the Attorney General of a state has the power to say ‘bring the file let me advise you.’
“It’s an innovation. It’s in all states of the federation, not only in Ogun State. It is an innovation so that police will not hold people endlessly and say they are investigating. Elijah was charged for murder after DPP advise in Ogun State here.
“With the power of the AG to call for the file, police have no discretion. I wrote a letter to the AIG and he can’t deny receiving it.”
He stressed that, “My interest is justice for people. One of his team leaders got five acres of land. Elijah may have history. I do not say he’s a saint; the law allows plea bargain. As long as I am here, I will continue to do what I know how to do best.
“I am not a baby lawyer. When we meet at the meeting of the AG’s we discussed issues of halfway investigation. Elijah was taken to Abuja based on his own petition. That’s what police won’t tell you.”