By Okhide Em’ya David
Thursday February 4, 2021 scheduled continuous hearing in the Case of murder of Okaighele of Kolokolo Community in Ologbo Dukedom, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria, Mr. Sunny Etchie and two other Youth Leaders, Okuomuose Omorodion and Genesis Orji was stalled by the absence of a Senior State Counsel , Mrs Osasu O Ewemade.
The case was brought by the State against the Iyasere of Warri, Chief Johnson Atselege and seven others at a Benin High Court, situated at Aiguobasimwin GRA, Benin City.
Senior State Counsel Osasu O. Ewemade was said to be away at the Edo State Ministry of Justice writing a Promotion interview examination.
The action of some Counsels who tendered a letter from their office containing profuse apologies for her absence were seriously rebuked by the presiding Judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele who reminded them that he had specifically asked her during hearing the previous day to assign the duty to another Counsel if she would be indisposed and not chanced to be in Court.
The worst part of the issue was that the Counsels who turned up in Court did not even have the relevant files from the Ministry with which they would have continued with the hearing.
The presiding Judge observed particularly that the indiscretion of the Ministry Officials not to include certain parts of the Statements of the Principal witness -one, PW1, in the documents made available to the defense Counsels was responsible for the Wednesdays adjournment to Thursday, noting that he had cautioned them to ensure hearing was guaranteed on the day it was adjourned to.
Justice Ovbiagele immediately ordered that a telephone call be put to the DPP at the Edo State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Ikpefa, noting that Senior State Counsel Osasu Ewemade only attends his Court once in a week and that it was not tidy she could be absent leading to temporal halt in the hearing in that case on that day.
The judge then asked the defense Counsels for their comments and they all agreed and adjourned hearing in the murder of the Okaighele of Kolokolo, Mr. Sunny Etchie to February 10, 2021 and that of the murder of two other Ologbo Youth Leaders, Okuomuose Omorodion and Genesis Orji to February 17, 2021.
He however warned that the Senior State Counsel should not repeat what happened that day as the Court will not tolerate such untidy attitude.
Before the Court wound up proceedings on the case for the day Counsel to 1st to 7th defendants, R O Okoegbu had raised an observation to the effect that his Clients were being prevented from entering Kolokolo Community by some persons loyal to the late Okaighele, despite being granted bail.
Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele admonished all the parties to remain calm pending the determination of the case by the Court.
Also reacting to allegations by Counsel to the 1st to the 7th defendants that the first accused was being targeted at the gates of the Court to be arrested, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele discharged the allegation as extraneous and reminded them to remain calm.
All the 8 accused persons including, Tue Iyatsere of Warri ,Chief Johnson Ataelege , Felicia Otikpere, female – 55; Oluwa Esimije – 38; Monday Iluwa – 58; Ayokotse Robinson – 54; Nosa Omoregie – 54; Mofe Samuel – 40; Magnanimous Omawumi – 40; Ayuwa Mofe – 65, Amerete Ejiro – 25, Onyeburutan Jeffrey – 25 and Benjamin Erewa – 39 were in Court .
It would be recalled that the accused Persons are being arraigned on a count charge bodering on conspiracy, kidnapping and murder of Sunny Etchie, the Okhaigele of Kolokolo community, in suite number B/co/717m/20.
