Kunle Adelabu
The Honourable Justice F.O. Faji of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, has charged Mr Oluwatosin Onamade, the Chief Executive Officer, Western Funeral Home Limited and former Chairmanship aspirant, Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), in Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, to appear before the court on Friday, February 18, 2022 (tomorrow).
Mr Oluwatosin Onamade, who failed to appear before the court for the second to make his plea, was charged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), with offensive publications against Hon. Fathiu Salisu, former Chairman, Ijede LCDA in respect of the alleged murder of one Mr Tony Godfrey who was a staff of Western Funeral Home Limited.
The Judge asked counsel to the Defendant, Barr. Olatunji Oshikoya, in the case with Suit No: FHC/1/32C/2021, to ensure that his client appears unfailingly.
The presiding Judge also advised the Defendant to ensure that he honoured the police invitation before appearing as part of the conditions attached to his administrative bail.
While asking the Defense lawyer to undertake that his client will appear in court, the Honourable Judge also took exception to the alleged refusal of Onamade to honour the police invitations.
“When you see him, tell him that his conduct is not proper and that it is better for him to go to the police before you bring him to me”, the Judge said.
“Mr Oshikoya shall produce the Defendant on the 18th of February, 2022. This matter is adjourned to 18th of February, 2022”, Justice Faji ruled.
Barrister Victor I. Okoye, appearing for the IGP, said that Onamade has refused to be served and failed to honour police invitation despite that he is on administrative bail.
“My Lord, the Defendant, who was granted administrative bail, has ignored every invitation to appear before this honourable court”, he said.
“The charge was served on him by this court but the Defendant refused to accept it”.
He sought a request from the court for the defendant to be served by substituted means but it was not granted.
In his own address, Barrister Olatunji Oshikoya, who appeared for the Defendant, said that his client was not aware of the matter before the court until a journalist called him to know why he was not in court.
He also alleged that his client was ambushed and assaulted in an attempt to serve him.
“The attempt made at the High Court to serve my client was an ambush and the person did not disclose himself as an official of this court. He (Onamade) was even assaulted”, he said.
“He even got to know about the matter before this court when a journalist called him on the phone asking him why he was not in court on that day.
“The journalist is on this court (pointing to our reporter). He is here. He was the one that called him and that was how he got to know”.
While undertaking to produce his client before the court, Oshikoya also informed that he has a bail application before the court.
“In all honesty and I am speaking from the bar, we are supposed to meet here (court) today. He disposed to an affidavit in respect of the application. I tried reaching him but still unable to know his whereabouts”.
The bail application was served on the counsel to the IGP in the court as directed by the Judge.
In court for the matter was Hon. Fathiu Salisu, who is a witness in the case
