Onamade is the complainant in a murder case involving five murder suspects, namely: 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, who are being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government
By Eberechi Obinagwam
A petitioner, Oluwatosin Onamade, on Monday rejected the plea bargain approved by the Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN) for murder suspects.
Onamade, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijede Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, rejected the plea bargain before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the State High Court, Ikeja.
Onamade is the complainant in a murder case involving five murder suspects, namely: 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, who are being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government on seven count charge of murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, willful damage to property, unlawful society (cultism), breach of peace and conspiracy to commit felony.
The suspects were accused of murdering one Ifeanyi Godfrey Etunmuse at Western Funeral Home, Ijede Ikorodu, a company which belongs to the petitioner. The gruesome act was committed on April 16, 2021, during the build-up to the local government election in Lagos, in which Onamade contested for the post of the Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area.
The suspects however pleaded not guilty to the offence.
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However, at the court hearing on Monday for the continuation of trial, the prosecution lawyer, Michael Adewoye told the judge that he received an application for plea bargain from counsel to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendant, 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 defendant, 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.
The complainant who was visibly angry by the approval of the plea bargain by the Lagos AG raised his hands and told the court he was not in support of it.
“This is a way to deny us our rights. We are not in support of the plea bargain. The suspects has access to 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 Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the matter.
In response, Justice Oshodi acknowledged the tenacity of the complainant in ensuring justice is done to the victim.
He however said ‘my hands are tied’ adding that denying the approval was beyond his control.
The judge therefore adjourned the matter till January 25, 2025 for continuation of trial as well as for the prosecution counsel and counsel to the defendants to consult on terms of the plea bargain.