By Adeyinka Adeniran
An Oyo state High Court on Wednesday adjourned off record to June 11, 2025, for adoption in trial within trial, a case involving a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi.
The trial which was suppose to continue at Court 7 could not as a result of the court inability to sit.
It was like a mild drama, after counsels to both parties had arrived the court, seated and expecting the arrival of the Judge, Justice Bayo Bayo Taiwo, but turned out differently.
At about 9:30AM while awaiting the arrival of the judge, the Registrar announced to the hearing of the lawyers that the Court would not be sitting.
And that all matters before the court for the day were adjourned.
The development attracted a mixed feelings from some of the lawyers in court.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olalekan Ojo appeared for the Defendant while Mrs Olubisi Bolarinwa, Senior State Counsel appeared for the State.
In a sideline interview, Counsel to Auxiliary, Mr Olalekan Ojo, said the development was surprising because no reason was giving why the court did not sit.
Ojo said “The Court did not sit and no reason was given as to maybe the judge was away on a conference, retreat or other official engagement. All the lawyers were in court and we were all all stunned at the development.
“We were already all seated in court, and at about 9:25AM, the Registrar, addressing the Court, just announced to the lawyers that the Court was not going to sit and and all the cases were adjourned.”
Corenews recall that, the case which started at the Fiat Court 2, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan presided over by Justice Bayo Taiwo has moved to Court 7 under the same Lordship.
Auxiliary who was also a former Chairman of the State Disciplinary Committe of the Park Management System (PMS) is facing trial on 17 count charge bothering on armed robbery, murder, attempted murder, possession of firearm, including one AK-47 assault rifle, two SMG riffle with magazine.
The offence, according to the Prosecutor is contrary to any punishable under Section 1(2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP RII, Vol.14, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The matter with suit number I/74c/2024: State Versus Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary) is before Justice Bayo Taiwo. The Defendant was in court on Wednesday.
The case is one of the ongoing trials of the former Oyo NURTW boss. The case bothers on offences allegedly committed on 29th of May, 2023 at about 2PM at the Ikolaba, Ibadan residence of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Corenews reports that the defendant (Auxiliary) had pleaded not guilty to 17 count charge read to him on November 27th, 2024.
