A Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday granted an order that Abdulrahman Ballo, the suspected killer of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal and his co-defendants be returned to the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
Mrs S.B Mohammed of Magistrate Court 8 gave the order to allow for further investigation into the alleged murder case as requested for by the Chief State Counsel, Issa Zakari.
She urged the defendants to expressed their legal rights appropriately if they are dissatisfied with the order.
All the defendants were physically present in court with their their lawyers except for the Principal Suspect, Abdulrahman Ballo who is yet to hire a lawyer.
Arraigned along with Abdulraham Ballo are: Ahmed Abdulwasiu ‘M’, 41 years of Zone C, No 47, Adualere Area, Ilorin; Suleiman Muyideen ‘M’, 28 years, Neolife Business, No. 7 Adualere Area, Amilere Milengbe, Ilorin; Jamiu Uthman ‘M’, 29 years, Phone repairers, Adualere Area, Ilorin and Abdulrahmon Jamiu, ‘M’, 31 years, farmer, Elemere Village via Molete community in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.
They were brought to the court in a white Toyota Hilux bus by operatives of the DSS amidst tight security.
The Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari while moving for the remand of the defendants in DSS custody said: “My lord, after the last adjourned date, we received an intelligent security reports pursuant to which we approached your worship that the defendants have been moved to the custody of the Department of Security Service (DSS) for further investigation and it was on this note that you accepted the request.
“As we speak, investigation is ongoing and it is at advanced stage.
“We hereby wish to seek for the adjournment of this case till a later date when the investigation would have been concluded.”
However, Counsel to the 2nd and 4th defendants, A.S. Oseni, raised an objection to the request.
Oseni said : “During the last sitting, it was said that investigations have been concluded and sequel to that, a date has been communicated to us which is 15th April 2025
“Coming to you behind the back door to seek for another order, my Lord the order is something that this Honourable Court does not have right to hear and it is beyond your worship.
“The High Court has already seized this case, I hereby urge this Honourable Court to vacate such order and return the defendants back to the prison forthwith.
“My Lord, these are copies of the charges served on the defendants for clarification.”
Similarly, Counsel to the 3rd defendant in his submission said : “No single provision empower the prosecution with such power to make such order” and aligned himself with the position of of Barrister A.S. Oseni.
He urged the court to vacate the order, describing it as barbaric, null and void.
“This court lacks the power to determine such order because the High Court has seized the case,” he said.
Also speaking, Counsel to the 5th defendant, also urged the court to vacate the order in the interest of justice and fair hearing.”
Responding to their objections, the Chief State Counsel, Zakari said : “I most humbly submit that the arguments by the legal representatives of the defendants is an attempt to make out Mountain out of nothing.
“We have informed Your Lorship about the sensitivity and nature of the case which was later communicated vide exparte order that investigation still need to continue.
“Also, the defendants are yet to be arraigned before that High Court and more so, their case is yet to be mentioned there and they are even yet to take a plea.
“The law that empower us to mention this case before you also empowers you to sit on such order and determine it.
“If the defendants or any party have any grouse over this order, they can approach the court of appeal to challenge such.
“Therefore, there is no condition that can stop you from granting such order.
“Justice is a tripartite legal arrangements; Justice to the Society, Justice to the Victim and Justice to defendants themselves.
“On this note, I urge Your Worship to discountenace their position and see it as an aberration and attempt to escape from justice.”
Recalled that Hafsoh, a final year student of Kwara State College of Education was allegedly killed and dismembered by the first defendant, AbdulRahman.
The case has been adjourned to Wednesday 9th April 2025.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
