Judge pacifies counsel, says alleged husband killer’s case is a sober one

Fixes March 24 for hearing

An Oyo State High Court has fixed March 24, 2016 for the commencement of hearing into the matter of an Ibadan-based lawyer, Yewande Oyediran who was alleged to have stabbed her husband, Lowo Oyediran to death.

Justice Muktar Abimbola fixed the date, after conferring with both the State Director of Public Prosecution, Tajudeen Abdulganiyu who is holding brief for the state Government and the defense team led by Prince Abioye Ashanike

Abayomi Aliyu, who appeared for the deceased family, initially objected to the date based on the fact that he was snubbed by the two other parties, while fixing the date, but was pacified by the presiding Judge, who sued for peace among the parties and admonished that the circumstance of the matter demands for a sober reflection and not a situation for anybody to be excited about.

‘’The matter is a difficult situation for everybody. It calls for a sober reflection and not a time for anybody to be excited’’, he said

Aliu’s request to appear for the family was objected to by the DPP but was overruled by the Judge. Aliu led four other lawyers for the family in the matter.

While applying for a hearing date, the DPP told the court that the prosecution intends to rely on eight witnesses in the case, while the defense counsel, Prince Ashanike told the court that the defense has not been served any notice by the prosecution.

He also turned down the suggestion that the defendant should be served through his office. He insisted that she should be served through her home address. He however later, agreed to the court’s suggestion.

Meanwhile, the counsel to the deceased’s family, Aliu, who spoke with Journalists at the end of the proceedings, disagreed vehemently with the way the case of his client is being handled.

According to him, by the mere fact that the accused works with the DPP, makes the family of the victim uncomfortable with the setting of the trial, as he said this fact ought to preclude the prosecutor from being the leader of the prosecuting team.

He said, ‘’ Justice is not a one-way traffic. The accused should be properly prosecuted. She is still an employee of the state Ministry of Justice, she has not been sacked and she is being charged by the same Ministry of Justice.

‘’Ordinarily, we respect the Director of Public Prosecution and the Solicitor General, but we came out of abundance of caution. The DPP shouldn’t have come to prosecute somebody working under him.

‘’We are asking the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi to look into the matter. You can see all the family members crying’’, he added

While reacting to the veil the accused has been using to cover her face since her first arraignment at the Magistrate’s Court, Aliu said it was one of the things that is scaring the family as they see the privilege being given her by the prison officials as a show of solidarity for the accused who has been their friend for a long time, as a staff of the state Justice Ministry.