Appear for Trial or Face Bench Warrant, Court Threaten Landgrabber Owonla
Written By Dedeigbo Ayodeji Samson
Posted By Town Crier News Nigeria
Published By Fitness Network Communications
Justice Adenike Coker of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the state prosecutor to present an alleged notorious land grabber, Moroof Owonla and cohorts before the court or face a bench warrant.
Justice Coker issued this threat following Owonla’s disregard for court over his non-appearance for an alleged felony trial levelled against him and two other defendants.
The matter has suffered a series of setbacks owing to the non-appearance of the defendants to face trial.
At the last adjourned date, Justice Coker had ordered the defence counsel to produce the defendant, however, when the matter came up, the state prosecutor from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, T. O. Adeyegbe informed the court that the Attorney-General had directed the matter be forwarded to Restorative Justice to see if a resolution can be achieved.
In a counter-reaction, the complainant’s counsel, Mr. Saheed Shitta-bey informed the court that the Attorney-General on the 17th day of January the Complainant received a letter from the Attorney General to attend an ADR meeting and was surprised to see the fugitive defendant, Moroof Owonla and others in attendance.
Shitta-bey stated that the complainant is of the view that the Defendant is in disrespect of the Court, having refused to come to Court to face trial.
He noted that his non-appearance is deliberate, as such they seek a Bench Warrant against him to face trial.
“He is not in custody and he Is merely avoiding this Court
“His Offences are serious, land grabbing issues’ and forging court orders to carry out fake executions.
“This is beyond restorative process,” he said.
In her ruling, Justice Coker ordered the Prosecution to ensure that the Defendant is in Court on the next adjourned date, failing which the court shall be inclined to accede to the prayer of the Complainant Counsel for a Bench Warrant against the defendants.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till April 15 for possible arraignment of the defendants.
Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP had filled eight-count charges against Moroof Owonla, Olu-Aminu Yemisi Abdulaziz and Ganiyu Aminu over conspiring to commit a felony by forcible entry onto land in the Ayobo area of the State before the emergence of Lawal Pedro, SAN, as the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
DPP legal advice which recommended the trial of the suspected notorious land grabber was a follow-up to a diligent investigation carried out by the Police and the report issued thereafter which indicted all the defendants.
According to the charge information, the three suspected land grabbers, on the 5th day of August 2022, having procured thugs numbering about twenty invaded a hotel situated at No 34, Faguson Osagie Street and with intent to deprive a businessman, Hassan Alli, carted away building materials valued over thirty-two million naira.
