Pastor remanded for allegedly killing pastor

An Osogbo Magistrates’ court on Thursday remanded a 47-year-old clergyman, Adepoju Julius, in the Ilesa prison for allegedly stabbing a fellow pastor to death.
Magistrate Olusola Aluko who gave the order, said the accused should be remanded at the Ilesa prison because of the magnitude of the offence.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Oladoye Joshua, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on Jan. 15, at about 8.20 p.m, at the premises of the Apostolic Christ Mission along Oke-Ola, in Gbangan.
Joshua said the accused used a jack knife to stab his colleague to death following a fight.
“The accused was a pastor with The Apostolic Christ Mission at Oke-Ola, in Gbangan.
“He used a knife to stab one Pastor Julius Oguntoye when they fought over issues they had been dragging for long in the church.
“This led to the untimely death of the deceased pastor,’’ Joshua said.
Joshua said that the accused was facing a one-count charge, adding that the offence contravened Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. 11, Laws of Osun, 2003.
Counsel to the accused, Mrs Nnena Ugwu, prayed the court to grant bail to her client in most liberal terms.
The magistrate, however, overruled the bail application, and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Ilesa prison.
The case was adjourned to March 7 for mention. (NAN)

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Funsho Williams: Confusion as defendant slumps in court

.Court to rule on collection of fresh blood samples February 20

There was confusion at a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, as a defendant in the ongoing trial of alleged killers of Funsho Williams, slumped in court.
Musa Maina (second defendant), slumped in the dock at the peak of an argument on whether or not the prosecution should be allowed to collect fresh blood samples from the defendants for forensic investigation.
Maina, who is said to be Asthmatic, has been in prison custody since 2006, along with the first defendant, Bulama Kolo.
Barely 45 minuutes after the defendants, Kolo, Maina, David Cassidy, Tunani Sonani, Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariabie were put in the dock, an obviously discomfort Maina slumped.
His co-defendants had assisted him to stand but the abnormality drew the attention of the trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Adebajo, who said he should be allowed to sit down.
As the trial proceeded, a seated Maina slumped for the second time, which created a feeling of unease in the court.
Worried at the recurrence, Justice Adebajo ordered his support staff as well as prison authorities to call for an ambulance from the clinic.
Maina, who was seen struggling with an inhaler, with tears and catarrh running down his eyes and nostrils, was supported by security operatives who made him lie down.
The court was rowdy for about 10 minutes with lawyers and litigants running round to assist the defendant. While some Asthmatic patients brought their inhalers, others were fanning Maina to regain consciousness.
At this point, Justice Adebajo rose and ordered that the defendant should be immediately taken to the clinic for medical attention.
About 25 minutes after the incidence and five minutes after the court resumed sitting, a nurse came into the court and was assisted by two prison wardens to carry the defendant into a Lagos State Ambulance, JJJ704AP parked at the court’s entrance.
Meanwhile, Justice Adebajo has fixed February 20 for ruling on whether the prosecution can collect fresh blood samples for forensic examination from the suspects.
The state government had in April, told the court that the exibits for forensic evidence collected from the defendants at the commencement of the case including Funsho Williams’ eyes have been damaged due to epileptic power supply.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to the state, E.I. Alakija reminded the court of the pending application.
She also brought to the court’s attention, a Motion on Notice dated October 28, 2013, seeking an order of court to take blood samples from the defendants for the purpose of forensic examination.
Alakija said the prosecution relied on all nine paragraphs of its written affidavit, citing authorities that allow for samples to be collected when trial in a criminal case is ongoing.
Objecting the prosecution’s prayer, counsel to the defendants, Okezie Agbara in a nine-paragraph counter-affidavit, told the court that the prosecution cannot open investigation at this stage of the trial.
“Since the prosecution said the initial samples have been destroyed by lack of electricity, which samples will they match it with?”
Agbara was interjected by Justice Adebajo who asked the defence lawyer if he watches crime investigation on DSTV.
“You ever watch crime investigation on DSTV? Evidence obtained from crime scene can be kept for 12 years and still valid. Such evidences obtained from wood and clothes do not need electricity for preservation.”
The defence counsel further argued that an accused person should be prosecuted within reasonable time, noting that since the matter has dragged since 2007, allowing the prosecution collect fresh samples will further delay the matter.
He said that allowing the prosecution will be a delay in justice, since justice is not only for the state but for the defendants as well.
Agbara also submitted that the prosecution’s prayer should be disregarded on grounds that an attached exhibit marked A, which is a ruling from a Magistrates’ Court was not signed by the Magistrate.
He said the ruling only contained the stamp and endorsement of the registrar of the court’s registrar, as such cannot be relied on.
After listening to the submissions of the parties, Justice Adebajo fixed ruling on the application for an order enabling the prosecution to collect fresh blood samples for February 20.

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Arabic teacher charged with alleged police N690, 000 fraud

For allegedly defrauding a Policeman of N690, 000, in the guise of procuring Hajj visa, a 39 year-old Arabic teacher has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The defendant, Yusuf Kalmaldeen is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and theft.

A resident of 2, Dare Adelowe Close, Idiya Agbado, who said to have committed the offence in July, around Ikoyi.

Prosecuting Sergeant Emby Ingobu told the court that the defendant collected N690, 000 from one Sarafadeen Abdulraheem, a police officer, under the pretext of procuring him Hajj visa.

Ingobu alleged that the defendant failed to provide the visa to Abdulraheem but converted the money to his personal use.

The prosecutor alleged that Kalmaldeen presented himself as a travel agent, a representation he knew to be false.

“Investigation is still ongoing as more evidences will be brought to the court in the next adjourn date,” he said

According to Ingobu, the offence contravenes Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N150, 000 with two sureties each in like sum by Magistrate I.O. Omotosho.

She adjourned the case to November 11 for trial.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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