A Magistrate Court in Akure on Tuesday cancelled the bail granted to a suspected killer of Fulani herdsman, Ajayi Bayode following alleged pressure by the Ondo State Government.
Bayode was alleged to have killed one of the Fulani herdsmen who invaded his farmland in Arigidi Akoko in Akoko Northwest Local Government area of the State
He was however granted bail due to his deteriorating health condition four days ago.
Bayode appeared in court last week Thursday and charged with one count charge of murder contrary to Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol 1 of the laws of the state.
The suspect was however granted bail so that he could treat himself in order to stand trial.
But, piqued with the order of the court, the state government through the office of Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice asked the court to revoke the bail earlier granted the suspect.
When the case came up for hearing, a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice, Olubunmi Olatunji said the court should reverse its earlier order granted to the suspected killer of the herdsmen on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
Olatunji said the court should set aside its decision of the June 14 granting the respondent bail for want of jurisdiction in pursuant to Section 156 of the administration of Criminal Justice.
The counsel said the nature of the offence and the circumstances surrounding it poses great security challenges to the accused, the community and the state at large.
According to her, it is the High Court that has jurisdiction to hear cases that bordered on capital punishment if found guilty.
Counsel to the accused, Wale Omotoso however said he needed time to respond to the application made by the state government as he was served with the court processes earlier in the day.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Victoria Bob-Manuel ordered the accused to be taken to the custody by the police.
She also directed that the accused should be transferred to the hospital so that he could get medical attention. She ordered that he should be taken to the prison custody after that.
Bob-Manuel said since her court did not have jurisdiction to hear the case, the counsel to the accused should seek bail for his client at the High Court.
Omotoso said the court was forced to reverse herself because of the pressure from the government .
He said ”This is subversion of justice. If a person has been given bail because of pathetic health condition and overnight, the bail is revoked. The man is in jeopardy and may likely lose his life anytime from now. May God help us in this country”.
