OSOGBO — TWO former top government functionaries of the immediate past government led by Chief Bisi Akande of Osun State standing trial in an Osogbo Magistrate court over an alleged financial scam of N127million on Bola Ige House project were refused bail yesterday as the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), leading counsel to the accused persons, Chief Adeniyi Akintola was disqualified by the court.
The court yesterday was filled with some supporters of Alliance for Democracy (AD) who rained abuse on the incumbent governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola for what they termed "rubbishing the achievements of the past administration."
Lead counsel to the former secretary to the state government (SSG) Sola Akinwumi, former commissioner for finance, Chief Lere Adebayo and Architect Lanre Oladeji was disqualified by the court from representing the trio because of his status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who cannot appear in a lower court.
The disqualification of the lead counsel to the accused persons, Chief Adeniyi Akintola was argued on Monday by the lead counsel to the respondent, Mr. Kunle Kalejaiye who urged the court to reject the representation by Chief Akintola at the lower court by virtue of his status which he said qualified him to appear in superior courts.
Delivering his ruling on the objection raised by Kalejaiye, trial magistrate, Mr. Jide Falola said the objection of Kalejaiye was "sustained" and Chief Akintola was consequently disqualified. Falola further struck out all arguments earlier made by Akintola in the court in respect of the case.
The court then adjourned for ten minutes to allow the accused persons appoint a new counsel that will defend them after which the former deputy-governor of Oyo State, Mr. Iyiola Oladokun was chosen to stand for the trio.
When motion for bail for the three accused persons began afresh, the respondent counsel, Kunle Kalejaiye sought for adjournment which was later granted.
The court room was filled to capacity while security was beefed up with about 100 stern looking anti-riot policemen stationed at strategic locations in order to prevent party thugs who beseiged the court from disrupting court processes.
The court was adjourned to resume on Friday, 10th December, 2004 when likely appliations for bail would be heard.
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