By Oluwatoyin Malik
Copyright tribuneonlineng
The case of Ajayi Oluwabukola, alleged to have defrauded a school in Ibadan of N34.25 million, came up on Wednesday at Magistrate’s Court Two, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State, with the defendant absent again.
The sitting was presided over by Chief Magistrate Moruf Mudashiru.
The Deputy Director of the Public Prosecution Department, Ministry of Justice, Akibu Akintola, appeared as the prosecution counsel from the Department of Public Prosecution, Oyo State Ministry of Justice, alongside a state counsel, Q.C. Abraham.
Noticing the absence of the defendant and her counsel, Barrister Akintola noted that the matter had suffered a series of adjournments on the part of the defendant with excuses, pointing out her absence at Wednesday sitting as well.
In an application, the prosecution counsel sought a bench warrant to be issued against the defendant.
Also, the counsel for the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Barrister Wole Efunnuga, informed the court of a threat by a woman who introduced herself as a lawyer, named S.B. Ajibola, to the journalist covering the proceedings, as she demanded to know his right to cover the case.
Chief Magistrate Mudashiru, in response, frowned at such a move by any lawyer, stating that anybody has the right to be in court or request court proceedings since they are public documents.
The Chief Magistrate assured that the state would support such journalists or anyone so challenged.
As this was being said, the defence counsel, who introduced himself as S.B. Ajibola, came in and apologised for arriving late. He also apologised for the absence of the defendant, citing health issues as the reason.
He tendered a medical report from the state hospital, saying that the defendant had been admitted on Tuesday, 16 September, as she needed to be monitored by a physician.
Again, the Chief Magistrate frowned at the continuous absence of the defendant, but the defence counsel prayed the court to give her the benefit of the doubt.
The counsel undertook that the defendant would be in court on the next adjournment date under any circumstances.
Chief Magistrate Mudashiru, who instructed the defence counsel to ensure the defendant’s presence at the next sitting no matter her condition, assented to the request for benefit of the doubt.
He adjourned the case till 12 November for hearing.
He also directed that the defence lawyer should desist from troubling Tribune journalist with calls.
The defendant was first arraigned on 30 December 2024, in a suit with number MI/1716c/24, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and stealing N34.25 million from Sunshine International School, Ibadan.
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