LAGOS – Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Igbosere High Court, Lagos on Wednesday threatened to jail a dismissed Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Segun Fabunmi.
Akinlade made this threat when Fabunmi’s defence counsel, Mr T.J Odeshola told the court that he was not prepared to file his final written address.
Fabunmi, a former DPO of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, a suburb of Lagos, had served in the Nigerian Police Force for 28 years.
He was allegedly accused of killing one Mr Ademola Daramola on Jan. 9, 2012, during the fuel subsidy protests.
“My Lord we have not filed our final written addresses because we are yet to obtain a copy of the proceedings of the court,’’ Odeshola told the court .
Akinlade was said to have registered her displeasure upon hearing the counsel’s excuse.
“Is it because the defendant is on bail, that is why you are taking the court for granted? If you needed the proceedings of the court, you would have come for it on time.
“This matter had been adjourned since Nov.19, 2014, you had more than sufficient time to prepare your final written address.
“You are treating this matter with levity, I will send the defendant back to prison, you are not serious and I won’t take this attitude,” the judge said.
Akinlade, however, gave another adjournment date for adoption of the final written addresses.
“The case is hereby adjourned to April 23 for adoption of final written addresses, the prosecution is also urged to file their response on time,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fabunmi, during his testimony on Nov. 19, 2014, denied shooting at Daramola.
Fabunmi had claimed before the court that he, along with five junior officers, had responded to a distress
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call at the Yahaya Abatan junction, Ogba, a suburb of Lagos on Nov.19, 2014.
He said that on getting there, some hoodlums tried to dispossess him of his weapon which led to ammunition being discharged which instantly killed Daramola.
“I was the only one armed on that day, I was attacked by the mob which surrounded me and tried to collect my weapon from me.
“The junior officers who accompanied me on that day ran away for dear lives and during the struggle with the mob, I heard my gun expel a bullet.
“My Lord, I never shot at anyone and may the soul Ademola Daramola rest in peace.” Fabunmi said.
NAN also reports that during the trial, five prosecution witnesses testified that Fabunmi chased Daramola and shot at him.
Fabunmi faces a possible death sentence if convicted of murder. (NAN)
