The family members of Mr Muda Balogun, an official of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, who was allegedly murdered by three men on September 2022 in the Oko-Afo, Ojo area have accused the police of attempts to scuttle the trial of the suspects.
The suspects, identified as Kazeem Jinadu,50, Maaru Amisu,36, and Oluwatobi Ajao,48 were arraigned on December 12, 2022, before the Tinubu Magistrates Court on a five-count charge.
Nigeriacrime.com gathered that the Family members of Mr Muda Balogun, who besieged the premises of Tinubu Magistrate Court on Monday were seen crying profusely as they alleged a plot by the Police to scuttle the suspects’ trial.
Calling on the Police authorities and the Lagos State Government to ensure that justice is served in the matter, one of the family members who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that there are indications that the suspects are conspiring with some police officers to evade justice.
“All we want is justice for our late brother, father, husband and breadwinner of our family. From the look of things, there appears to move to scuttle the trial. We are pleading with the Police high command and Lagos state government to ensure that justice is served in the trial,” the family member said.
It will be recalled that the suspected killers were charged on December 12, 2022, before the Tinubu Magistrates Court on a five-count offence bordering on conspiracy, unlawful display of arms in public, willful damage, grievous harm, and murder.
They were remanded in prison pending legal advice by the office of the Directorate for Public Prosecution, DPP, and the matter was adjourned till February 2.
However, on February 2, when the case was mentioned, a police officer from Zone 2 Police Command, brought an application and asked that the case should be struck out of court.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs K.K. Awoyinka however rejected the plea and told the police officer that she did not have the power to strike out a matter already in DPP’s office.
Earlier during the proceedings, the counsel watching brief for the deceased family, Mr Mubashir Babatunde-Oshodi, had urged, the Magistrate to disregard the letter and the application to withdraw charges insisting that it was aimed at perverting justice.
When the matter came up on Monday, Magistrate Awoyinka further remanded the accused persons for another 20 days in prison
She adjourned the case until March 3, 2023, pending the DPP’s advice.