Magistrate Antoinette Dirisu of the Magistrate Court in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, has fixed June 10, 2024, to commence trial on the defamatory case against a Lagos-based Pastor.
The 57-year-old clergyman, Jude Ojo was arraigned before the court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, perversion of the course of justice, and aiding the escape of the suspects.
The arraignment was consequent to a petition written by a traditional ruler of Otumara community in Lagos, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye to the Lagos State Police command alleging threat to his life.
In a swift reaction, the CP special squad led by ASP Jagunno investigated the allegation and arrested five suspects including the dethroned traditional ruler of the Otumara community, Ladi Arowojolu, Shola Adegun, and three others.
The suspects were released on bail to the clergyman on the understanding that he would produce them in court at the appointed date for prosecution but this he failed to comply with.
Consequent to the suspects’ evasion of justice, the police in an amended charge arraigned Ojo before Ogba magistrate court on three counts charges of perversion of Justice, conspiracy, and aiding.
The three-count charge proffered against Ojo, according to the prosecutor, Inspector John Iveredem, read, “That you Jude Ojo ‘M’ and others at large on the 31st of December, 2023 at about 1900hrs at the CP Special squad, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did apply and stood surety or bail for Shola Adegun, Festus Arowojolu, Friday Arowojolu, Rotimi Arowojolu who were involved in a case of conspiracy, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and threat to life, wherein you promised to produce the said persons on the 2nd of January 2024 at about 0900hrs and every subsequent date as disposed of or forfeit the sum of five hundred thousand naira to the Lagos State government but breached same by failing and refusing to produce the persons despite repeated requests and thereby perverted the course of justice contrary to Section 97 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you, Jude Ojo, and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did aid to escape from the lawful custody of the police one Shola Adegun, Festus Arowojolu, Rotimi Arowojolu and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 107 of the Criminal law of the Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
“That you, Jude Ojo, and others at large on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did stand as a surety and enter into recognizance in bond sum of Five hundred thousand naira for the bail of Shola Adegun, Festus Arowojolu, Friday Arowojolu and Rotimi Arowojolu who you promise to produce on January 2nd, 2024 and subsequent dates and which you failed to produced the said persons. You are hereby ordered to show cause why the recognizance bond of five hundred thousand naira you entered into should not be forfeited to the government in pursuant to Section 132 of Administration of Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Antoinette Dirisu of Court 19, Ilori court house, Ogba, Lagos, fixed June 10, 2024, for the commencement of trial.
