A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and petitioner in a murder case, Oluwatosin Onamade, has rejected the plea bargain as approved by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), for five murder suspects.
The suspects, including Atunrase Sodiq Omolabi ‘M’ 28 years, Shittu Michael Olawale ‘M’ 28 years, Olaide Opeifa ‘M’ 40′ years, Olanrewaju Adebiyi aka Maja ‘M’ 35 years, and Jamiu Omosanya aka Orobo, were arraigned for the murder of Ifeanyi Godfrey Etunmuse at the Western Funeral Home, Ijede Ikorodu, Lagos, on April 16, 2021.
The deceased was a personal assistant to the petitioner and an aspirant in the 2021 local government election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suspects are facing seven-count charges of murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, wilful damage to property, unlawful society (cultism), breach of peace, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
However, the suspects had pleaded not guilty to the offence.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, the prosecution lawyer, Michael Adewoye, told the judge that he received an application for a plea bargain from counsel to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th defendants, adding that the application has already been approved by the Lagos Attorney-General.
He said a letter of approval has been given to counsel to the defendants, but the terms of the approval will be later forwarded to the counsel.
In his response, counsel to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th defendants, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, confirmed an application was made for plea bargain, adding that the terms will be worked out with the prosecution counsel.
Asked by the court if he was in agreement with the application, counsel to the 4th defendant, Mahmood Adesina (SAN), urged the court to go ahead with the trial, saying, ‘We should not close our eyes and just ignore the trial.
Reacting, Onamade rejected the plea bargain proposed by the Lagos State Attorney-General before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
He retorted, “Your Honour, this is a way to deny us our rights. We are not in support of the plea bargain. The suspects have access to the phone from prison, and they call us every time, threatening our lives. The prosecutors are no longer on our side; we no longer have confidence in them. We know the stress we went through before we could arrest and bring the suspects to court,” he told the court.
The complainant further said a petition against the approval has been written to the AG as well as the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on the matter.
In his ruling, Justice Oshodi commended the tenacity of the complainant in ensuring justice is done to the victim, adding that denying the approval was beyond his control.
The case was adjourned to January 7, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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