A legal practitioner, Dele Abass, has requested the Osun State Judicial Service Commission to investigate the release of several convicts by a Magistrate Court in the state.
Vanguard reported that Magistrate Abimbola Famuyide sentenced former chairman of Iwo-West Local Council Development Area, Tajudeen Babatunde, octogenarian Kasumu Arohunfesu, Sunday Ajoko, Kohonu Deboye, Adeoye Alabi, and Jonas John to four years in prison for conspiring to destroy farmland valued at N10 million.
In a petition addressed to the commission and obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, Abass alleged that the convicts were released from prison without due process of law. He claimed that Chief Magistrate I. A. Oyebadejo granted bail to the convicts while they were still serving their sentences.
The petition, titled “Re: Conviction of the Defendants in Charge No: MIW/68C/2021 between the State v. Tajudeen Babatunde & 5 Others,” noted that Arohunfesu was offered an option of a fine during the conviction. Abass further alleged that the convicts’ counsel, Chief Olayide Yekeen, filed a summons for bail and supporting documents to secure the release of the five convicts pending appeal.
He pointed out that the charge number MIW/76C/2021, for which the application for bail was made on August 6, 2024, does not exist, while the correct charge number for the conviction on June 5, 2024, is MIW/68C/2024, as delivered by Chief Magistrate Famuyide.
Abass raised concerns about potential corruption between the State Ministry of Justice, led by the Hon. Attorney General, the convicts, their counsel, and Chief Magistrate I. A. Oyebadejo, who issued the controversial judgment on July 10, 2024.
In his petition, Abass urged the commission to investigate the alleged abuse and reckless exercise of judicial powers by Magistrate I. A. Oyebadejo and to apply appropriate sanctions if necessary.
When contacted for confirmation regarding the receipt of the petition, the secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, Mrs. Abosede Fagbola, stated she needed to speak with the petitioner before confirming its receipt