Female lawyer accused of killing husband prays court to strike out charge

In his response, Tajudeen Abdulganiyu, Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that the preliminary objection was just served on him on Tuesday evening

Yewande Oyediran, a female lawyer, alleged to have killed her husband, Lowo Oyediran, on Wednesday sought for an order of an Oyo State High Court, Ibadan to strike out a charge of murder levelled against her.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Oyediran, of the Directorate of the Public Prosecutions, Oyo State Ministry of Justice, allegedly murdered Lowo by stabbing him with a knife on February 2.
The counsel representing Oyediran, Bioye Ashanike, told the court that he had filed a preliminary objection in respect of the charge of murder preferred against his client.
Ashanike urged the court to strike out the murder charge against his client for incompetence.
In his response, Tajudeen Abdulganiyu, Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that the preliminary objection was just served on him on Tuesday evening.
Abdulganiyu said he was opposed to the striking out of the application, describing it as frivolous.
The DPP urged the court to grant him an adjournment to enable him respond to the application.
However, counsel to the family of the deceased, Yomi Aliyu, told the court that the family of the deceased wanted a private prosecutor and that an application had been filed in respect of that.
Aliyu said the defendant works with the Oyo State Ministry of Justice.
Therefore, the DPP may not properly prosecute the defendant because she is currently one of its staff members and everybody wants justice.
He said the application was served on the Oyo State Solicitor-General, Permanent Secretary and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
The DPP confirmed that the application had been filed and said it was the prerogative of the Ministry of Justice to decide whether a private prosecutor would be allowed.
Abdulganiyu said he cannot take any decision now but hopefully the ministry would decide as soon as possible.
Justice Muktar Abimbola adjourned the case till April 18 when it would hear the response of the DPPs on the preliminary objection and the issue of private prosecutor.
Abimbola, who sympathised with the deceased family, promised to give the case an accelerated hearing.


NAN.