By Adeyinka Adeniran
Justice O. A. Adetujoye of Fiat Court 5, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan has ordered that a case file involving a former Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of the Park Management System (PMS), Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, also known as Auxiliary be transfered to the state Chief Judge for reassignment to another court.
The matter with suit number I/74c/2024 was between the State Versus Mukaila Lamidi (Auxiliary) and was scheduled for hearing on Monday.
But, the Judged resolved to returning the case to the CJ as a result of the failure of the Counsels to agree if the Court should take the two different cases before it involving the defendant.
The defendant, Mukaila Lamidi was present in court on Monday. He 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 charge sheet 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 Nation reports that the defendant has three separate criminal charges pending against him before the High Court of Oyo State.
Two of such charges are before my Justice Adetujoye. The first one relates to the alleged criminal offences that took place at the residence of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on the 29th day of May, 2020 with suit number I/74c/2024. It was scheduled for hearing on Monday, but could not proceed.
The second charge has to do with alleged criminal offences that took place in Igboora during the campaign leading to 2023 general elections.
After taking appearance of the Counsels of the parties before the days proceedings began, Justice Adetujoye requested if the parties would agree to the court hearing the two different cases of the defendant before her.
Responding, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr S. O Adeoye who led the team of lawyers on behalf of the State told the court that the state had no objection to the request.
Other lawyers in the team include three Senior State Counsels: S. A. Osuolale, Isa Busari, G. A Ramoni and O. A. Sobande (State Counsel).
But, in a counter response, counsel to the defendant, Mr Olalekan Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria said his client would prefer that the two cases be heard by different courts.
He noted that if the Court starts the hearing of the case as scheduled, the other matter should be transferred to another court.
The Senior Advocate said he raised the objection after due consultation with his client and after taking into consideration so many variables.
However, the Judge explained that if any matter would be transfered, it would be the one scheduled for hearing on Monday since it was an offence that was committed within Ibadan jurisdiction.
She noted that the other matter that happened in Igboora would be retained by her Court since Eruwa/Igboora was her original jurisdiction but also sitting in Ibadan as a Fiat Court.
Corenews reports that there was heavy security presence at the Court on Monday, with increased security patrol vans and personnel deployed within and around the Court.
