An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ijero Ekiti has issued a warrant of arrest against the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Olajide Awe and three others to answer the charge of murder filed against them by the state government.
The three other persons wanted in court are Faboro John Ojo, Aniramu Basiru and Falayi Busuyi.
They are being urged to defend themselves against alleged complicity in the murder of Ayo Jeje and Mrs. Juliana Adewumi in Erijiyan Ekiti on March 30, 2013.
But Awe, who asserted his innocence in the alleged killing, said the charge was politically motivated and brought against him and fellow APC members by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government to silence them and take them out of circulation.
He said the case had earlier been struck out by the court when no prima facie case was established against him and other accused persons.
Justice Bamidele Omotoso, who granted the order on July 25, held that Awe and three other accused persons must be produced in court by the Police on October 5, 2016, when the case comes up for hearing.
According to a copy of warrant of arrest made available to reporters Wednesday, Awe, Ojo, Aniramu, Falayi, Sefiu Owonifari and Sola Adenijo are wanted in court in connection with the offence of conspiracy to kill, contrary to Section 324 of Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
The enrollment of order was signed by the judge and one K.A. Adeniyi on behalf of Assistant Chief Registrar of the State High Court.
Only Owonifari and Adenijo were present in court while the first four accused persons were absent. The two accused persons who appeared in court were represented by a team of lawyers led by Ibrahim Olanrewaju.
The warrant of arrest dated July 27, was issued based on the prayer of Counsel to the Ekiti State Government, Yakubu Dauda, who asked the court to invoke Section 94 of the state Administration of Criminal Justice Law to compel the appearances of the accused person before the court.
Justice Omotoso ruled: “Consequently, I hereby invoke the provisions of Section 94 of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ekiti State by ordering that Bench Warrants be issued against the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants to compel their appearances before this court at the next day of adjournment and subsequently to stand for their trial.
“Consequently, this matter is hereby adjourned till October 5, 2016, for hearing.”
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Owoseni Ajayi said: “The court order will be served on the police with immediate effect, hoping that it will be complied with strictly.”
Ajayi, in a letter to the IGP dated July 8, which was copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, National Human Rights Commission and the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, decried the refusal of the police to arrest the accused persons despite several requests.
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