The case could not go on at the Ekiti State High Court 6 on Monday as presiding judge, Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye adjourned to December 19 for mention pending the conclusion of hearing at the appellate court.
The accused persons are Adebayo Aderiye (1st), Adeniyi Adedipe (2nd), Oso Farotimi (3rd), Ajayi Kayode (4th), Sola Durodola (5th), Rotimi Olanbiwonnu (6th) and Sola Adenijo (7th).
Defence counsel, Elijah Nworie, said the Appeal Court was yet to adopt the brief of argument of the parties pending before it, hence the need for adjournment.
Justice Ogunmoye said his court could not go on with the matter when the Court of Appeal had not disposed of the motion filed there by the prosecution, adjourning the case to December 19 for mention.
Shortly after the court rose, families of the accused persons alleged a conspiracy between the state government and the authorities of the Ado Ekiti Court of Appeal to stall hearing and keep their breadwinners permanently in prison custody.
She said: “I gained admission into the university but I could not pay because of my father’s detention in prison custody and we the children are crying everyday.
Olanbiwonnu’s son, Olaide, urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja to intervene, accusing the Ekiti government of colluding with the Ado Ekiti Division to stall the case.
Olaide said: “This is a delay tactic employed by the state government, the accused should be the one delaying the matter but it is now the other way round.
“We want to appeal to the Federal Government and NJC to intervene by investigating those at the Ado Ekiti Court of Appeal. These people are suffering for the offence they did not commit and judges and officials of the Appeal Court here should not delay the case before them.”
Mrs. Seun Adenijo, who spoke on behalf of the wives of the accused persons, alleged that the delay was deliberate as the motion was filed at the Appeal Court over five months ago without being heard.
She said: “We believe the case is being intentionally delayed because over five months ago when the state government filed a motion there, they are yet to give a date to hear it.
“There was a time they said they were on vacation and we waited until they finished vacation and nothing has been done by the Court of Appeal so far. We appeal to the judges and the Registrar to dispose of the motion so that the High Court can go on with the case before it.”
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