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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Chief Judge of Osun State handling the alleged murder of Timothy Adegoke, a Masters student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Justice Oyebola Ojo, on Tuesday fumed over the refusal of the prosecutor to produce the hotelier, Dr Rahman Adedoyin, in court.
Adedoyin in whose hotel Adegoke purported died in November 2021 and his staff, 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.
The prosecutor, Femi Falana, SAN, had sought to substitute the charge against the defendants and the ruling on the argument was slated for Tuesday.
When the case came up, Adedoyin was not in court but other defendants were brought from the correctional centre.
The development infuriated the Judge who threatened to reassign the case to another judge that has many years on the bench.
The prosecutor, Fatimah Adesina, said she heard from the office of the correctional centre that Adedoyin is sick, saying the court can go ahead in his absence.
But, counsels to the respondents, Thanni Olalekan, AbduRasheed Muritala SAN, O.U Yusuf, and Okon Ita, posited that the law is clear that the proceeding can not go on in the absence of Adedoyin.
The Judge thereby adjourned the case to the 7th and 8th of November 2022 for ruling on the application for amendment of charges and the application to allow Adedoyin to go for medical treatment outside the prison.
She said, “I may have to transfer it to another judge with more years in service. I don’t have more time on the bench.”
