Fayose Withdraws Murder Charges Against Three APC Members

Murder charges leveled against the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Jide Awe, and two others has been discharged by an Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti.

The murder trial dates back to 2013 when they were acussed of killing one Madam Juliana Adewunmi and Murphy Jeje who were member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Naija News learnt that the late woman, Adewunmi was the mother of the current Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State Assembly, Mr. Segun Adewunmi.

The two others acquainted of the murder charges are Sola Adenijo and Sefiu Owonikoko. However, Owonikoko died about three weeks ago.

Their discharge was secured after orders were sent out by Governor Ayodele Fayose to state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kolapo Kolade.

Kolade said that the the case was been withdrawn because both the complainant and defendant were from this samer place in the state,Erinjiyan Ekiti and they needed to restore peace and honour to the community.

He stated also that the move of the governor was to show the spirit of forgiveness, as he belives in peace, posterity, brotherliness and the peoples welfare who were alleged to have been divided over the years due to the court cxase.

Kolade said: “What happened in court today is far beyond politics, the governor in his usual characteristic manner of promoting peace and brotherliness in all communities in Ekiti and across party lines has intervened.

“In this matter, so many good people across Nigeria, even the defendants in this matter, have appealed to his Excellency to intervene in this matter, particularly in Erijinyan, more so as the defendants and complainant are of same family, the complainants have given the ahead and said the matter should be withdrawn.

“This development equally supports the cause of justice. One of the cardinal principles of justice is promotion of peace.”

One of the defense counsel in the matter, Ibrahim Olanrewaju, commended the state governor for withdrawing the case.

“Reason seems to have prevailed today; the Attorney General himself came to court to withdraw the charge. And by the provision of our law, the court was left with no option, than to discharge and acquit the defendants.

“This simply means that this charge can’t be filled in any court again. Like you all know the genesis of the case. We are not saying that somebody was not murdered, but we all know that it is more of political fight than looking for justice.

“We salute the state for doing this, we salute the courage of the attorney general for the bold step and we salute the courage of our lord Justice Omotoso for discharging and also acquitting the defendants. He could have just discharged without acquitting them.”