Police officers ‘fight’ in court over seniority


The office of the Inspector General of Police and the Osun state Commissioner of Police on Tuesday engaged in confrontation over prosecution of criminal charge before a federal high Court, sitting in Osogbo, Osun state capital.


The charge was slated for arraignment of the defendant, but the duo of the lawyers from the office of Assistant Inspector General, AIG zone X1, Mr James Famuyini and OC legal of the state police, Mr John Okafor, disagreed on who should prosecute the case.


The office of the AIG claimed that the seniority of the office qualified it to prosecute the matter but, Okafor maintained that he has the power to prosecute the matter because he instituted the case.


The presiding judge, Justice Ayoola Emmanuel, described the argument of the two counsels as a “shame”.

He said the headline on the charge showed that it was instituted by the state police command and directed the office of the state police to continue with the arraignment of the defendant.


Justice Emmanuel advised the counsels to go home and resolve their differences, expressing displeasure over the action of the two courses.


When the case was called, the defendant, a 44-year-old Oluseye Oluwaseun, was alleged to have committed an offence with intent to defraud one Adedigba Olajire to the tune of N5.3million.


The defendant pleaded not guilty of the advance fee fraud charge. 


His counsel, Mr. Kanmi Ajibola, in a formal application submitted to the court, urged the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal term.


But, Okafor urged the court to deny the bail of the defendant. He said the defendant is likely to jump bail if admitted on bail.


Justice Emmanuel said the argument of the prosecution does not convince the court to deny the bail of the defendant.


He granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2million with a surety who must be a civil servant and not below level 15 with the state or federal government.


The court adjourned the matter to September 5, for trial.

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