The Ondo State Judiciary has established a panel to investigate the imprisonment of a suspect without trial by a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ile-Oluji. While expressing worry over the backlash the development had generated in the state, the Chief Registrar, Yetunde Ajanaku, called for calm as the issue was being investigated.
The Chief Magistrate’s Court presided over by Tope Aladejana, convicted and sentenced Benjamin Andrew to three years imprisonment for stealing cocoa on a farm in Ile-Oluji, headquarters of the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Council of the state.
The court was said to have convicted Andrew without conducting a trial, even after the suspect pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge. In a statement issued and signed by Ajanaku, she said: “The Ondo State Judiciary has taken note of a recent judicial pronouncement delivered by an Ondo State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ile-Oluji on August 12, in the case with Charge No. MIL/25C/2024, Commissioner of Police (COP) versus Benjamin Andrew, in which the purported Certified True Copies of this judgement have become the subject of extensive online discussions and public scrutiny.
“The Ondo State Judiciary is deeply concerned about this development, and the Chief Judge has promptly launched a meticulous investigation to verify the authenticity of the Certified True Copies of the judgement and thoroughly examine the circumstances leading to the pronouncement, should the judgement be duly authenticated.
“This action aims to ensure that court proceedings and practices in the state strictly adhere to the letter and spirit of the applicable laws and established judicial conventions.
“The Ondo State Judiciary reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to the sacred cause of justice while acknowledging the inherent possibility of human error and occasional oversights.
“We respectfully appeal for calm and composed deliberation as we diligently work to resolve the issues in this matter.”
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