Kunle Adelabu
Honourable Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, last Friday, reinstated his directive that the Defendant and the aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency II seat, Mr Oluwatosin Onamade, shall report to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, every Monday.
He also directed that his attendance register must be presented to the court by the next adjournment date in matter with the Suit No: FHC/1/32C/2021, instituted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) last year with two Count charges allegedly in contravention of Section 24 and 24 (2) (a) of the Cybercrimes act, 2015.
Onamade, who is the Chief Executive Officer, Western Home Funeral Limited and a former Chairmanship aspirant for Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, is a Defendant in the matter while Hon. Fathiu Salisu Jimoh, the former Chairman, Ijede LCDA, is a prosecution witness.
The matter was adjourned to November 29, 2022.
“There is a complaint that the defendant has not been attending the police station every Monday as directed but the defendant said that he has been attending”, the judge said.
“The defendant shall, henceforth, attend the State CID, Alagomeji, Yaba, every Monday in company of his counsel. The officer – in – charge at the SCID, Panti, shall continue to sign his attendance register and shall present the attendance in court within…..”, Justice Faji ruled.
Earlier in the matter, Mr L.G. Abba, who appeared for the prosecutor had argued that in the order of the court delivered on the day, the directive that Onamade should be reporting at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has not been obeyed.
He also alleged before the court that the medical report submitted to the court and upon which the court granted Onamade an administrative bail, was forged.
However, he sought the permission of the court to regularize his response to Onamade’s bail application which the court observed was not properly done.
The Defendant, Mr Onamade, in his response to the judge’s query on his failure to obey his court order by reporting every Monday to the SCID, said that he followed the order of the court to the latter, but added that after reporting three times, and unable to locate the counsel, he was supposed to report to one Victor Okoye, at the SCID.
He added that upon enquiry at the legal department of the SCID, he was told that no one bears the name but another similar name.
Onamade further stated that he always signed a ledger that was opened for him at SCID Panti, whenever he reported at the police formation which he charged the court to verify.
Mr Abraham Adepitan, a new counsel appeared for the Defendant.
