Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court has issued a stern warning to the public against leaving charms in his courtroom. The judge’s caution came during the trial of five men accused of the murder of Ifeanyi Etunmuse, which commenced on Monday.
Mr. Oshodi unequivocally stated, “No one should leave charms in my courtroom. It should not be repeated. A talisman was found after the last adjourned date in the murder case.”
Referring to the charm as ‘property’, the judge admonished the courtroom audience, “Do not leave your property here again. It does not work anymore.”
The Lagos state government pressed charges against the five suspects; Atunrase Omolabi, Shittu Olawale, Olaide Opeifa, Olanrewaju Adebiyi also known as Maja, and Jamiu Omosanya also known as Orobo. They are facing charges related to the attempted murder and murder of Etunmuse at the Western Funeral Home, Ijede Ikorodu.
During the trial, the defence counsel continued the cross-examination of the prosecution witness, Babatunde Olayinka. Olanrewaju Ajanaku, the lead defence counsel, posed questions to Olayinka regarding the alleged involvement of the defendants in the attack on the deceased and his ability to observe the compound of a local politician and funeral services businessman, Oluwatosin Onamade, from his hiding place during the purported attack.
Olayinka revealed to the court that he concealed himself in the cemetery and witnessed a group of men wielding machetes at the Onamade compound on the day of the incident, April 16, 2021. He further disclosed that as he sought refuge from the machete-wielding men, he stumbled upon a dead body nearby.
When asked by the defence counsel if he could assert that the defendants were involved in the incident, Olayinka stated that he could not emphatically attribute the events to the defendants.
The defence counsel for the fourth defendant, Mahmud Adesina, also conducted cross-examination, focusing on Olayinka’s previous statement regarding the defendants’ acquaintance and identification by Femi Onamade, a relative of Oluwatosin Onamade.
During re-examination by the prosecution counsel, M. T. Adewoye, Olayinka confirmed his observation of the machete-wielding men during the incursion into the compound. Consequently, Mr. Adewoye requested the court to summon Femi Onamade as a witness.
In response, the judge issued a witness summons for Femi Onamade, adjourning the matter until Feb. 19, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.
During a previous court hearing on April 6, the prosecution had alleged that the suspects also severed the wrist of Femi Onamade, the younger brother of Tosin Onamade. – NAN
