The Human Rights Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana(SAN), has written to the Attorney–General of Osun State, Femi Akande, seeking Fiat (authorization) to prosecute the Proprietor of Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and six others for their alleged involvement in the murder of Timothy Adegoke, who until his death was a post-graduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The Punch had reported that the murder trial which was first instituted in an Abuja court by the police, was afterward transferred to the Osun State High Court after Falana’s intervention.
Chief Adedoyin and other six suspects namely: Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluole Florence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, and Adedeji Adesola, were arraigned on March 3 on 11 counts of conspiracy, murder, attempted felony, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering and intent to destroy evidence.
Falana(SAN) is seeking Fiat to prosecute the case on behalf of the State government.
The fiery human rights lawyer argued that except he is given the powers of prosecution by the State government, he would not be able to pursue the case, since murder is a crime against the State.
When contacted on the telephone, the Osun AG, Akande, said he was awaiting the approval of Governor Oyetola before responding to Falana’s request.
‘’The governor will make a decision on it,’’ he said, in a text message when asked if the matter would be handed over to Falana.
However, all the defendants standing trial before Justice Adepele Ojo last week entered a no-case submission in their defense.
This followed the close of the prosecution case by the counsel, Mr. O. Omosun, after calling eight witnesses.
Adedoyin’s counsel, Yusuf Alli(SAN), as well as the six other defendants, Mr. Muritala Abdulrasheed(SAN), Ronald Otaru(SAN), and Okon Ita, all entered a no-case submission on behalf of the defendants in the case.