By Mustapha Aleem
A three count charge bothering on Conspiracy, Stealing and armed robbery, filed against Adeyemi Sunday, Adesiyan Blessing and Okechukwu Friday, is on the verge of being dumped in the bin over inconsistent police account.
The suspects, who are standing trial at the Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo, were said to have allegedly conspired and robbed one Mr. Oyediran Azeez of his clothes, wristwatch and a Blackberry Torch 2 Handset, valued at N46, 000 on the 28th of May, 2018 at about 7:50pm at AUD Primary School Area, Ipetumodu, Osun State.
They were also accused of stealing from one Adekunle Abayomi, the sum of N75, 000 at Baakun Compound, Ipetumodu, while they were allegedly armed with two large catridges, locally made gun and cutlasses.
During cross examination, the prosecution witness, Sergeant Segun Okeniyi, also said the accused persons were arrested in Modakeke on the instruction of the Modakeke Divisional Police Officer, Supo Babtunde, who reportedly informed them of some suspected criminals, who were harboured in a house in Sabo Area of Ipetumodu.
He added that on getting to the scene, many of them (Suspected Criminals) fled the house, leaving them with only the first accused person, saying the other two accused persons were arrested at a different location.
According to him, “I was not personally involved in the arrest of the accused persons. They had been arrested by the policemen in Modakeke. I and my colleagues only went there for their transfer to Ipetumodu.”
We got an instruction from the DPO, Supo Babatunde, who got an information that there is a house in Sabo Area that is harbouring some criminals. We were able to incarcerate them but they only spent one night in our custody. After obtaining their statements, I got them transferred to to the state Central Investigation Department.”
But the counsel to the first accused person, Barr Olawole, argued that at the point of arrest, there was no incriminating material in possession of his client, emphasising that no complainant accompanied the police and the arrested suspects to the station.
He said, “It is evident in the exhibit A (the first accused person’s statement) that the policemen arrested my client without any complainant following them to the station during his transfer to Ipetumodu from Modakeke. Also, there was no incriminating object with him as against what is claimed by the police.”
Chief A.O. Amole, the counsel to the third accused person told the court, during reexamination that there was no evidence before the court that his client, Okechukwu Friday was involved in the purported crime.
According to him, “The Sergeant does not know my client at all in respect of this case and I wonder why he is the picture.”
However, the case was stalled as the prosecutor, Adekunle Adeniyi, could not make available, the second prosecution witness, who he claimed was away in Lagos and was unavoidably absent.
Justice K.M. Akano, in her ruling said the case would be closed if the second witness to the case was not available at the next adjourned date.
She said, “We shall close the case if the PW 2 is not present in court in the next adjourned date.”
The case was adjourned to the 5th day of September, 2018.
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