The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has taken over from the police a suit involving the former chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Mr Olaposi Oginni, and two other officials of the party.
Media Talk Africa recalls that the party’s national headquarters had earlier expelled Oginni over anti-party activities and misappropriation of funds.
Other party executives went to the police station to seek the assistance of security agents to open the party secretariat, but Oginni reported the matter to the police, alleging theft and malicious damage.
Oginni was later arrested in Abeokuta by detectives from the Force Headquarters Abuja and was moved to Abuja following a petition to the Inspector-General of Police by E. A. Igwe and Co on behalf of the NNPP national leadership.
Media Talk Africa reports lawyers from DPP informed the Abeokuta Magistrate Court, Isabo, that they were taking over the prosecution of the case from the police on Wednesday.
The court, noting that it had earlier been served a letter by DPP, granted it leave to take over the case and directed the police prosecutor to hand over the case file to the state prosecutors.
The prosecution counsel thereafter asked the court for an adjournment, saying that they needed time to study the case file and go through all the statements of the witnesses.
The case was adjourned until November 30, 2023 for trial.
The Public Relations Officer of the party in the state, Olowu Olayemi Omokehinde, confirmed the development to Media Talk Africa on Thursday.
In a statement made available to Media Talk Africa, he said: “We are very happy that the DPP has taken over the prosecution of this case. We firmly believe that justice will be done and the truth of this case will be brought to light.”
