The Osogbo High Court on Tuesday ordered the Nigerian Correctional Services to produce Raheem Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, alleged to have murdered one Timothy Adegoke, an Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) postgraduate student, in court on November 7.

The six other defendants standing trial in the murder case are Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Florence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola.

Justice Adepele Ojo, who delivered the ruling, said Mr Adedoyin should be brought to the court to stand trial, despite the time constraints in the case being heard.

Ms Ojo said she would either grant some defendants bail and allow Mr Adedoyin to face the murder case or transfer the case file if the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) refused to bring him.

The judge decried the time wasted in concluding the case because of Mr Adedoyin’s absence in court on two occasions, reportedly on health grounds.

She urged the NCS to ensure the presence of the defendant on the next date of adjournment, adding that his presence for trial had become sacrosanct.

She also demanded that a medical report over Mr Adedoyin’s ill health be brought to court on the next date of adjournment.

Ms Ojo adjourned the case to November 7 to ensure the defendant’s presence in court.

Earlier, the plaintiff’s counsel, Fatima Adesina, had told the court that she heard the defendant was sick and could not come to stand his trial.

Ms Adesina had prayed the court to take judicial note of the defendant’s absence (Mr Adedoyin) on several occasions.

The defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge of conspiracy, murder, attempted felony, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering and intent to destroy evidence.

The case file number HOS/5C/2022, dated February 14, and filed on February 17, had earlier been substituted with HOS/5C/ 2022, dated February 22, 2022, and filed on March 2, 2022.

(NAN)