IBADAN —ADEBAYO Adedamola a.k.a Fryo yesterday opened his defence in the two counts charge of conspiracy and murder over the assassination of Chief Bola Ige with court admitting the result of polygraph test clearing him of the crime.
At the resumed hearing of the celebrated case yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Atilade Ojo warned counsel against asking for adjournment as he declared: “I am not going to adjourn this case for anybody because his witness is not available”.
”Make sure all your witnesses are ready, I am determined to finish this case before I commence my vacation. I am not on vacation because of this case”. When the case resumed, counsel to Fryo, Mr. Adediran Adeyemo called four witnesses namely Lucky Adebayo Keyamo; Inspector Moses Adekunle; Mrs. Kehinde Seyintolu Martins and Olayinka Olawale Yusuf Sheu, who all absolved fryo of the crime.
Younger brother of Lagos Lawyer, Mr. Lucky Keyamo told the court that fryo actually protested the video recording of his discussion with his brother. The younger Keyamo who narrated how his brother put together fryo’s story said “after the video recording, fryo protested and he told me what was recorded in the video were totally false”.
"After the press conference, fryo told me that the whole story is totally false but I did not inform the police about what transpired until 12th March, 2002". Under cross-examination from Mr. Olubunmi Ogunniran, the lead prosecutor, Lucky Keyamo said: “I would be surprised to hear Mr. Segun Banjo saying that I was not present when my brother was discussing with fryo in the chamber”.
Mr. Lucky Keyamo who reiterated all the story he told a sister court that his brother formulated the fryo’s story to gain cheap publicity, said “after the interaction with fryo in our office and when we got home that day, myself and my brother, I noticed something in my brother, he was overjoyed and very happy. I inquired from him why and the answer he gave me was “my time has come” and explained further that with this case he was about to handle, he will be more famous and popular than other well known lawyers in the country because of the caliber of person that is involved, Chief Bola Ige.
”I advised him that to be famous and popular is not bad anyway but he does not have to gain that famous (fame) and popularity at the detriment of innocent people. He now replied that opportunity comes but once that he must use the opportunity, more so, he wanted to contest the governorship seat in Delta state in 2007".
Inspector Moses Adekunle presented two diaries belonging to fryo; result of polygraph test conducted on fryo, and a petition written by one Debo Adegoroye titled: “This is the truth and nothing but the truth: The Exclusive, authentic, authoritative and truthful” and all these were admitted as exhibits 2, 2A, 2B and 2C respectively.
Mrs. Kehinde Martins and Olawale Sheu, both, younger sister and brother of fryo also testified before the court, narrating how their brother came to Lagos on December 21st and 24th 2001 with some dogs he packed from the official quarters of late Hon. Odunayo Olagbaju in Osogbo.
Mrs. Martins said: “We were taken to the office of Mrs. Abimbola Ojomo and we met our brother there. We met fryo weeping, Mrs Ojomo was also weeping and we joined them in weeping. Mrs. Ojomo later ordered our release. Mrs. Ojomo gave us N800 for our transport fare back home”.
Mr. Olawale Sheu in his evidence said: “It was one Alhaja Ajibade Oshodi that advised fryo to bring the dogs to her veterinary doctor son in Lagos and he actually 24th December, 2001 in the morning”.
The case continues today when fryo is expected to enter the witness box. Also yesterday, counsel to Mr. Daramola Ezekiel, Mr. Fred Onyeka sought the permission of the court to allow his own witness, an official of the State Security Service (SSS), to testify in chamber today and the court granted the request.
