...Mourners Celebrate at Afolabi's Funeral
Keyamo: Judgement, a disaster
From Hammed Shittu in Osogbo and Shaka Momodu in Lagos
Mourning turned to dancing yesterday at the inter-religious funeral service for former Internal Affairs Minister, the late Chief Sunday Afolabi in Osogbo, Osun State following the news that the former deputy governor of the state, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, had been discharged and acquitted.
Omisore also stormed his home town, Ile-Ife, in a grand style yesterday after his discharge and acquittal by the Ibadan High Court.
However, Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, who handed over one of the suspects to the police, described the judgement as a "disaster" to the judicial system.
The funeral service which took place at Osogbo Sports Stadium saw the members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, well-wishers and political functionaries embracing one another and lauded the Ibadan High Court judgment.
For almost an hour, the service was partially disrupted as people danced around the stadium.
In his reaction, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP South-West, Chief Olabode George, described the judgment as a good omen for the nation.
He said that the trial of Omisore and his subsequent discharge and acquittal was good, stressing that "the truth will always prevail at the end. I am congratulating him, his family and we are welcoming him back to PDP and wishing him all the best in his future endeavours."
In Ile-Ife, hundreds of the indigenes moved in a convoy of vehicles to the entry point of the town located at Ajebandele to welcome Omisore back home.
Shops, business centres and various kiosks and drinking joints in the ancient town were closed down as a mark of honour for him.
Many indigenes converged on the Ooni of Ife's palace, where Omisore was expected to pay a courtesy call on the royal father, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
Many of them who spoke with THISDAY described the judgement as a welcome development.
They said that the discharge and acquittal was "historical" in the political development of the country, especially in the South-west.
The indigenes, however, advised Omisore to be wary of "political contractors" who may want to use his victory to score political point.
Keyamo reacted sharply to the verdict, describing it as a disaster for the judicial system.
He expressed his disappointment, declaring that the judgement is against the weight of evidence before the judge. "I am disappointed. The judgement serves to put government more in trouble because as it is now, the government has failed to tell the nation who killed Bola Ige," he said.
He declared that "the judgement is a disaster for the security system, it is a disaster for the police, it is a disaster for our judicial system. It is also a disaster for the government."
He stated further thus: "The court has given its judgement, it is left for the people to give their own judgement. I will encourage the prosecution to go on appeal. Finally, I want to add that the soul of Bola Ige will continue to cry out until the killers either confess or are brought to book."
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