The Osun State High Court has directed the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) to produce the owner of Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, Rahman Adedoyin in court on November 7, 2022.
The presiding judge, Justice Adepele Ojo stated that she will be forced to grant some defendants bail and allow Adedoyin face the murder case if the suspect is not produced.
Adedoyin was allegedly involved in the murder of a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke in 2021.
The court had adjourned for ruling on the application for amendment of charge by the prosecution, and adoption of written addresses.
But at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Adedoyin was not in court and according to the prosecution counsel, Fatima Adesina, the first defendant was not in court because he was sick.
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In a judgement delivered on Tuesday, Justice Ojo who noted that there was a time constraint in the case being heard, directed that Adedoyin be brought to court to resume trial.
The judge also noted that concluding the case had been made impossible by the continuous absence of the suspect in court on health grounds.
She threatened to transfer the case file if the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) refuses to produce him.
While maintaining that the presence of Adedoyin was necessary to the case, the Judge asked the NCS to ensure his presence in court on the adjourned date of November 7.
She also demanded that a medical report on Adedoyin’s ill health be brought to court on the next date of adjournment.
The six other defendants in the murder trial are Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Florence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, and Adedeji Adesola.
They had also pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge of conspiracy, murder, attempted felony, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering, and intent to destroy evidence slammed against them.