ASSANINATION ATTEMPT ON ONAMADE: TRIAL OF SUSPECTS TO BEGIN AT LAGOS HIGH COURT

Following the decision of the court to expunge a controversial decision of the Chief Magistrate of the Yaba Magistrate court to grant bail to four suspects fingered in the attack that led to the gruesome assassination of one Mr. Ifeanyi Etunmuse Godfrey, a staff of Lagos State House of Assembly constituency 2 aspirant in Ijede, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, the trial of the suspects will now take effect at Ikeja High Court of Lagos.

Ifeanyi Godfrey Etunmuse was killed when a gang of not less than 12 armed sponsored cultists attacked the Western Funeral Home Limited, a company belonging to Lagos State House of Assembly aspirant in Ikorodu, Mr Oluwatosin Onamade, on April 16, 2021. Several other staff of the company were severely injured in the violent attack.

The Magistrate, His Honour Adeola Olatunbosun, it was learnt, while executing the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) dated December 13, 2021 with reference number LJP/MISC/2021/155/19, stated that four suspects, joined as defendants in the filed Suit No: MISC/MCY/766/21 do have a case to answer. However, the suspects were granted bail in the sum of N300, 000 each while the matter was adjourned for mention till March 21, 2022.

The four suspects namely Atunrase Sodiq Omolabi 'M' 28 years, Shittu Michael Olawale 'M' 28 years, Olaide Opeifa 'M' 40' years, and Olanrewaju Adebiyi aka Maja 'M' 35 years were apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and were being remanded for MURDER, Grievous Harm, Members of unlawful society and cultism, Conspiracy to commit felony case and others until they were granted bail by the Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O Olatunbosun on February 23, 2022.

Faulting the decision of the Magistrate, Onamade immediately filed an appeal motion No: 4B/05/2022 with charge No: MISC/MCY/766/21, with the Attorney general of Lagos State and the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) as respondents, Onamade expressing utmost dissatisfaction with the decision of the Chief Magistrate, His Honour Adeola Olatunbosun.

According to Onamade, the pronouncement by the Court on this matter is quite upsetting and unbelievable. “the whole decision of the Court to try murder case and the discretionary power of the court to grant bail to the four (4) defendants in murder charge even when no one applied for it really raises a lot of questions.”

Onamade therefore sought reliefs at the Court of Appeal for an order allowing his appeal, an order that the lower magistrate court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the charge, an order that the lower court excuse itself from proceeding of murder charge on the arrival of the legal advice preferring a murder charge against the defendants, an order setting aside the proceedings /rulings of 23rd day of February, 2022 as it lacks jurisdiction to do so, and an order directing the learned chief magistrate , His Worship, Adeola Olatunbosun (Chief Magistrate) to relief himself or any other magistrate from further proceedings, approving bail and / or doing anything on the instant charge pending the final determination of the appeal, amongst others.

Granting the request of the appellant during a sitting on Monday 4th of April, 2022, and based on supplement DPP advice, the earlier decision of the Magistrate court to grant bail to the suspect has been overturned while the matter has been moved to a higher court of jurisdiction for further treatment.

The matter will now be tried at Ikeja High Court of Lagos with suit no ID/18824C/2022.

The matter was been adjourned till May 30, 2022 wherein a new trial judge, Justice Oshodi has been assigned for the case.

Meanwhile, the principal suspect of the attack who has not been named as at time of filing this report, will also be included in the suits when the trial commences. This was disclosed to our reporter by sources close to the complainant.