Magistrate Antoinette Dirisu of the Magistrate Court in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, has fixed June 15, 2024, to rule on the matter between the Lagos state Commissioner of Police and a Pastor of the RCCG, Jude Ojo.
The police arraigned the clergyman on a three-count charge of conspiracy, perversion of the course of justice and aiding the escape of suspects who allegedly threatened the life of a traditional ruler of the Otumara community in Lagos, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the defense counsel, M.A Alo called the attention of the court to publications of the court proceedings which she alleged was sponsored by the complainant.
She said, “My Lord, I want to call the attention of the court to publications of the court proceedings that were sponsored by the complainant. I have spoken with the prosecutor to speak to his client to discontinue further publications but he didn’t. The publication is aimed at embarrassing the defendant as it was shared by the complainant on various social media platforms.”
Alo submitted printed copies of the alleged publication to the court for vetting.
Directing her inquiries to the prosecutor, John Iveredem, the Magistrate asked, are you aware about these publications?
She quizzed further, “My name was boldly written on it. Do you know the implication of this? I am adjourning this matter to July 15 and any further publication on this matter, I am going to have your client locked up. I take exception to this. You cannot tell me we have journalists among us here.”
The counsel watching brief for the complainant, M.O Sanusi told the court that his client has no knowledge about the said publications.
He said, “my client does not own the press. He didn’t sponsor any publications at least none to the best of my knowledge.”
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama within the court premises as the trio of the defendant, Jude Ojo, Saliu Azeez and Segun Ojebode initiated verbal attack on Nigerian Tribune’s journalist for reporting the proceedings.
He said, “How much are you paid to report this? You have been recording and reporting the court proceedings. Why can’t you identify yourself in the court. You better stop reporting or you will have yourself to blame.”
Following the evasion of justice by the dethroned traditional ruler of the Otumara community, Ladi Arowojolu, Shola Adegun and three others, the police in an amended charge had arraigned Ojo before the Ogba magistrate court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, perversion of Justice, and aiding.
The charge reads, “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 produce 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.”
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