17th February, 2016
GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN
Mrs. Yewande Oyediran, a lawyer who allegedly stabbed her husband, Lowo Oyediran, to death 2 February in their residence at Akobo Area of Ibadan, western Nigeria, Wednesday appeared before a high court presided over by the Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Muktar Abimbola.
Yawande was brought to the court premises in an ambulance of the Agodi Prisons, Ibadan with her face covered with clothes. But she slightly opened the wrapper in the courtroom so that the court could see her face.
At the proceedings, a lawyer, Chief Michael Aliu, applied orally that he should be allowed to watch the DPP’s brief on the case but the lead counsel to the accused, Oloyede Ashanike, objected, noting that the DPP is in charge of the case.
The court overruled the objection and granted Aliu request to watch the brief but he could not make speech on it.
The court had adjourned the case till 24 March, 2016 for commencement of trial.
However, the family of deceased husband has applied for fiat for private legal practitioners to prosecute the case.
The family applied for the fiat through their legal counsel, Mr. Kehinde Adesiyan, in a letter dated 15 February, and addressed to the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General, Oyo State Ministry of Justice. Copies of the letter were sent to the state governor, Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice and the Chief Judge of the state.
The letter reads in part: “We most respectfully apply for the fiat of the Ministry of Justice as private legal practitioners to prosecute this case on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and the government of Oyo State. This became necessary in view of the fact that the accused herself is a legal officer, not only in the Ministry of Justice of Oyo State, she is an officer in the Directorate of Public Prosecution that is statutorily saddled with the handling of cases like this.”
The petitioners contended that the refusal of the application for fiat to prosecute the matter would violate the principle of fair hearing and natural justice, adding that justice should be done for the accused, the victim and the society.
The family, however, thanked the Ministry of Justice for promptly rendering the Legal Advice in respect of the “matter and the filing of information to the Oyo State High Court for commencement of the prosecution of this case. Whilst the family appreciates your efforts, the family felt that for there to be justice to all stakeholders in this case, it will be fair and appropriate for an impartial independent legal practitioner to prosecute this case on behalf of the Government of Oyo State.”