Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court issued a stern warning to the public on Monday against leaving charms in his courtroom, News About Nigeria reports.
The caution came during the trial of five men charged with the murder of Ifeanyi Etunmuse.
“No one should leave charms in my courtroom. It should not be repeated. A talisman was found after the last adjourned date in the murder case,” Justice Oshodi said.
Referring to the charm as ‘property’, he warned the courtroom audience, “Do not leave your property here again. It does not work anymore.”
The five suspects, Atunrase Omolabi, Shittu Olawale, Olaide Opeifa, Olanrewaju Adebiyi (aka Maja), and Jamiu Omosanya (aka Orobo), face charges of attempted murder and murder of Etunmuse at Western Funeral Home, Ijede Ikorodu.
During the trial, the defence counsel continued cross-examination of the prosecution witness, Babatunde Olayinka.
The witness revealed that he hid in the cemetery and saw a group of men wielding machetes at Oluwatosin Onamade’s compound on the day of the incident. As he hid, he turned around and saw a dead body beside him.
The defence counsel questioned Olayinka about the defendants’ involvement in the attack, to which the witness replied that he could not say emphatically that the defendants had anything to do with the body.
Mahmud Adesina, the defence counsel to the fourth defendant, queried the witness on whether he had earlier mentioned that Femi Onamade, a relative of Oluwatosin Onamade, was the one who knew the defendants in person.
Olayinka affirmed this, stating that Femi knew the defendants and Oluwatosin could identify them.
In response, the prosecution counsel requested a witness summons for Femi Onamade to appear in court.
The judge, Justice Oshodi, granted the request and adjourned the trial until February 19, 2024, for further proceedings.
In a previous court hearing, the prosecution alleged that the suspects cut off the wrist of Femi Onamade, the younger brother of Tosin Onamade.
