Justice Bayo Taiwo of Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan has adjourned till March 10th this year for continuation of trial between Oyo State and former Chairman of the Park Management System, PMS in the state, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi also known as “Auxilliary.”
At the resumed trial, Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr S. O. Adeoye called Inspector Felix Adegoke from the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele to give evidence.
Inspector Adegoke stated that on the 29th of May, 2023, the command received a distress call that the residence of the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde at Ikolaba, Ibadan, was under attack by the defendant and some other hoodlums.
He noted that the police, after arriving at the scene, arrested nine members of the Park Management System, PMS, with the defendant escaping.
Inspector Adegoke further noted that the defendant was arrested on the 15th of May 2024 with various dangerous weapons including guns, machete, charms and bulletproof vest which were presented as exhibits in court.
The defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, SAN, opposed the submission of the exhibits stating that it violates section 14 of the Evidence Act, but was overruled by Justice Ojo.
Mr Ojo, SAN also objected to the submission of a video confessional statement of the defendants as exhibit arguing that it was obtained under duress and that the case was politically motivated.
Justice Taiwo, after hearing both counsels’ arguments, ordered trial within a trial to determine if the defendant’s confession was voluntary and adjourned the trial to the 10th of March this year.
Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, also known as “Auxilliary” is standing trial on a 17-count charge bordering on armed robbery, attempted murder, murder and illegal possession of firearms.
Radio Nigeria/Deborah Ige
