The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has been called upon to order a retrial of a threat to live case dismissed by a Chief Magistrate Court in the state.
A victim, Alimi Sule, community leaders and human rights activists who made the call in Ondo said they are surprised by the ruling of the Chief Magistrate.
The Chief Magistrate Court presided over by A. O Omofolarin, had dismissed a case of assault and threat to live instituted against the trio of Olaleye Awonusi, Adesoji Adeyemi and Azeez Akinbote at an Ondo Magisterial district.
The suspects were dragged to court by the police for alleged conspiracy with others to commit a felony, to wit, the threat to the life of one Loghofela Ayoola ‘M’ and Alimi Sule ‘M’ and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal code, Cap 37 Vol.1, laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
They were accused by the Police Prosecutor, Supol Olagbayi of unlawfully assaulting one Alimi Sule by beating him with fist blows and a broken bottle and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37 Vol. 1, laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
Aside from assault and threat to life, the suspect was docked for inflicting bodily injury on Alimi Sule and attempted murder contrary to section 249 (d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37 Vol.1, laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
However, the court dismissed the case against the accused while waiting for legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), leading to uproar among the victim, community leaders in Iloko Agbondin community, Bolorunduro, Ondo East local government area of the state.
The victim, community leaders, and human rights activists have asked the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to order a retrial of the threat to life case dismissed by the Magistrate Court.
They said the case, which involved both physical injury and threat to life, was expected to follow due legal process, with the case file already sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
They said the DPP’s legal advice is considered crucial in determining the direction and strength of the prosecution. Alimi said the people of Iloko Agbondin are now calling for a full investigation into the handling of the case.
He said many people in the agrarian community believed that the decision to dismiss the case without the DPP’s input was a deliberate attempt to shield the assailants from justice.
He said the premature striking out of the case has left him and the community feeling abandoned by the very system that should protect them.