The trial of Hilton Hotel owner, Dr Rahman Adedoyin, and his six workers being prosecuted over the alleged murder of Obafemi Awolowo University student, Timothy Adegoke, has suffered set back as their defence counsel failed to file final written address on time.

Justice Oyebola Ojo, had adjourned till March 16 for adoption of final address by parties.

It was learnt that the counsel to the defendant failed to file their final written addresses on time, which also prevented the prosecution counsel from filing a response to enable the court proceed.

A source told journalists that the court could not seat because prosecution counsel could not respond to the addresses filed by defendants in the matter.

“The court could not sit because the defence counsel could not file their written addresses on time, hence prosecution counsel could not respond. So there are no addresses before the court to warrant it to seat for parties to adopt,” the source said.

Prosecution counsel, Fatima Adesina, who had always represented Femi Falana, SAN, in court, said the parties had agreed to meet and address the court on April 27.

The convicted billionaire kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans has started afresh over alleged kidnapping and attempted murder of Chief James Uduji before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square.

Evans was re-arraigned alongside Joseph Emeka, Victor Aduba and Okapara Linus before Justice Ibironke Harrison.

They are facing five count charges bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and attempted murder, preferred against them by Lagos State.

The case started afresh after the case file was transferred from Justice Adedayo Akintoye the initial trial judge.

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Evans and his co-defendants, were arraigned for allegedly kidnapping Chief James Uduji and collecting a ransom of $1.2m dollars.

They, and others at large, allegedly committed the offence on September 7, 2015 at 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.

The defendants were also accused of attempted murder by allegedly firing shots at Uduji, and Donatus Nwoye which hit him on the hand and again shot one Mr. Jereome Okezie on the hand and head.

When the matter came up for re-arraignmemt, Mr H. Owokoniran announced his appearance for prosecution, while Mr Nelson Onyejiaka held the brief of Evans lawyer who was absent and also appeared for the 2nd defendant.

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Mr A. K. Orajiuka, appeared for the 3rd defendant, while Mr Emmanuel Ochai appeared for the 4th defendant.

According to the prosecution the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 271 (3) and 230 (A) , of the criminal laws of Lagos state 2015.

However the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The case was adjourned till May 3 and 4, 2023 for trial.

An Ikeja Sexual offences and Domestic Violence Court, has sentenced a predator, Stephen Francis, to life imprisonment for defiling an 11-year-old minor.

Justice Abiola Soladoye held that the prosecution had sufficiently proved the three essential ingredients of defilement against the convict.

The judge said that the overwhelming narrative of the prosecution witnesses, the two exhibits tendered at Olosan Police Station and at the state CIID Panti, made by the convict voluntarily admitted his guilt.

According to her, the confessional statements of the convict were consistent with the evidence given by the survivor and her mother before the court.

“The survivor, 11 year old primary five pupil, identified the defendant in the dock as the man who sexually defiled her when he told her that his wife was calling her to run errands for her.

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“The defendant took her to his house and had sex with her. She said “he took me to his room and slept with me. I went to my mother and reported to her after that we went to the police station”.

“The survivor’s testimony was consistent and unshaken under cross-examination.

“The survivor’s mother testified that she went to buy drugs for herself on the day of the incident and that she met her daughter crying by the time she got back home.

“The evidence of the prosecution witness 2 (survivor’s mother) that she examined the private part of her daughter and found sperm confirmed the narration of the survivor.

“There is no contradiction to nullify the guilt of the defendant as the evidence before the court is very clear.

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“The defendant stripped her naked and had unlawful sexual intercourse with her,” she said.

The judge further held that slight penetration amount to sexual intercourse and denial by the defendant was an afterthought.

“The defendant claimed he was at work on the day the incident happened but he failed to bring an alibi to buttress his point.

“Parents and guardians should be alive to good parenting in this present day and time.

“I hereby find the defendant guilty as charged of the one-count charge of defilement and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.

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“The defendant should have his name registered in the sexual offence register as maintained by Lagos State,” Soladoye said.

The prosecution team- Mr Olusola Shoneye, Mrs Olufunke Adegoke and Ms Abimbola Abolade called two witnesses while the convict testified as the sole witness for defence.

They said the convict committed the offence on Aug. 12, 2020 on Fagbenro Street, Idi-Araba, Mushin in Lagos

The prosecution submitted that the offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.