A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the alleged killer of the late human right crusader, Kunle Fadipe has unveiled at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, some tools said to have been used in the commission of the crime.
The defendant, Seun Oladapo is standing trial before Justice Atinuke Ipaye, for an alleged July 4, 2014, murder of Fadipe and others, Harmony Estate, near Karaole Estate, College Road in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area, Lagos.
At the hearing of the matter, the lead prosecution counsel, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, who is the Lagos Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija tendered various objects recovered at the scene of incidence through the Investigative Police Officer (IPO), Adefuye James who is the said witness.
The alleged murder tools include a torchlight, dagger, kitchen knife, and pair of black hand gloves.
Other objects tendered are a pair of slippers, a red T-shirt, a black backpack ( school bag), window blind, furniture pieces and one nokia phone. All of these were blood-stained and were admitted as exhibits.
The defence counsel, Worer Obuagbaka did not oppose the tendering of the objects..
The witness, James who was from the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Yaba, in his testimony said: "The defendant was transferred to our department for alleged case of murder of one Barrister Fadipe. The case file was brought to the investigation team, led by T.S Shola Abioye. I and others were part of the team. The defendant had a gunshot on his left leg.
"After the first aid had been administered on him, the defendant was taken back to our office and was cautioned and interrogated. The defendant said he couldn't write. The statement was written for him and was interpreted in Yoruba language and he thumb printed it.
"The defendant admitted he committed the offence. After the statement, he was taken to the police hospital for further treatment."
He later told court that while the defendant was on admission, the team continued with the investigation and discovered that defendant lied that he came from Abeokuta.
"The defendant later confirmed he lived at No 20 Aladito street, Fagba, Agege. He confirmed that he took a dagger, a pair of slippers and a T-shirt and headed to Harmony Estate, Ifako. At the estate, there was a heavy rainfall and he walked round the estate and discovered that a generating set was put on at late Fadipe's house which made him jump into the compound."
James informed the court that defendant claimed to have gone there with a shirt and slippers to change after the operation so that he would not be identified.
Earlier, the security guard working with the Harmony estate, Bamidele Sanni explained to the court that he was the one who shot the defendant in leg.
Sanni who said he had worked within the estate for six years, stated he was able to identify the defendant as the one whom he shot in the leg when he was called to rescue late Fadipe.
According to him, the son of late Fadipe came to alert us about the incident, as I was following him to their house, I alerted other security guards in the area.
"On getting to the house, we met late Fadipe on the floor close to the gate, I went inside and met the defendant struggling to escape and I shot him in the leg. We were able to chain him down and called the chairman. The chairman came and we handed over him to the police"
Oladapo was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on murder, robbery and assault occasioning harm contrary to Section 221, 295 (2)(a) and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
One of the counts, reads: "Oluwaseun Oladapo on the 4th day of July 2014 at about 0300hr at No 1, Harmony Estate, Ifako-Ijaiye, Iju, Lagos in the Ikeja Judicial Division whilst armed with an offensive weapon, a knife did rob one Kunle Fadipe of a large sum of money and murdered him by stabbing him severally on numerous part of the body.
Another part of the charge alleges that he "murdered one Cecilia Owolabi by stabbing her on the chest, assaulted one Abiola Owolabi and Folahanmi Fadipe by stabbing them with a knife.”
He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The defendant, Seun Oladapo is standing trial before Justice Atinuke Ipaye, for an alleged July 4, 2014, murder of Fadipe and others, Harmony Estate, near Karaole Estate, College Road in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area, Lagos.
At the hearing of the matter, the lead prosecution counsel, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, who is the Lagos Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Idowu Alakija tendered various objects recovered at the scene of incidence through the Investigative Police Officer (IPO), Adefuye James who is the said witness.
The alleged murder tools include a torchlight, dagger, kitchen knife, and pair of black hand gloves.
Other objects tendered are a pair of slippers, a red T-shirt, a black backpack ( school bag), window blind, furniture pieces and one nokia phone. All of these were blood-stained and were admitted as exhibits.
The defence counsel, Worer Obuagbaka did not oppose the tendering of the objects..
The witness, James who was from the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Yaba, in his testimony said: "The defendant was transferred to our department for alleged case of murder of one Barrister Fadipe. The case file was brought to the investigation team, led by T.S Shola Abioye. I and others were part of the team. The defendant had a gunshot on his left leg.
"After the first aid had been administered on him, the defendant was taken back to our office and was cautioned and interrogated. The defendant said he couldn't write. The statement was written for him and was interpreted in Yoruba language and he thumb printed it.
"The defendant admitted he committed the offence. After the statement, he was taken to the police hospital for further treatment."
He later told court that while the defendant was on admission, the team continued with the investigation and discovered that defendant lied that he came from Abeokuta.
"The defendant later confirmed he lived at No 20 Aladito street, Fagba, Agege. He confirmed that he took a dagger, a pair of slippers and a T-shirt and headed to Harmony Estate, Ifako. At the estate, there was a heavy rainfall and he walked round the estate and discovered that a generating set was put on at late Fadipe's house which made him jump into the compound."
James informed the court that defendant claimed to have gone there with a shirt and slippers to change after the operation so that he would not be identified.
Earlier, the security guard working with the Harmony estate, Bamidele Sanni explained to the court that he was the one who shot the defendant in leg.
Sanni who said he had worked within the estate for six years, stated he was able to identify the defendant as the one whom he shot in the leg when he was called to rescue late Fadipe.
According to him, the son of late Fadipe came to alert us about the incident, as I was following him to their house, I alerted other security guards in the area.
"On getting to the house, we met late Fadipe on the floor close to the gate, I went inside and met the defendant struggling to escape and I shot him in the leg. We were able to chain him down and called the chairman. The chairman came and we handed over him to the police"
Oladapo was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on murder, robbery and assault occasioning harm contrary to Section 221, 295 (2)(a) and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
One of the counts, reads: "Oluwaseun Oladapo on the 4th day of July 2014 at about 0300hr at No 1, Harmony Estate, Ifako-Ijaiye, Iju, Lagos in the Ikeja Judicial Division whilst armed with an offensive weapon, a knife did rob one Kunle Fadipe of a large sum of money and murdered him by stabbing him severally on numerous part of the body.
Another part of the charge alleges that he "murdered one Cecilia Owolabi by stabbing her on the chest, assaulted one Abiola Owolabi and Folahanmi Fadipe by stabbing them with a knife.”
He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
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