By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Iwoye Community of Ayedun, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State have cried out over the injustice perpetrated by certain group of people at the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, Ilorin.
The community alleged, that the group in the ministry are using the office of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to cause injustice in the court of law.
This was made known by Barr. Akinmade Abolarin on behalf of the Iwoye Community of Ayedun at a press conference held at NUJ Press Center in Ilorin on Monday.
According to Lawyer Abolarin, what led to the press conference was that, “each time the Obajisun, Oba Olusegun Abayomi Rotimi of Ayedun and his supporters commit a crime, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kwara State readily comes to their rescue. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice is always available for a discontinuance of the criminal cases.”
He explained that the conference is to bring these occurrences to the knowledge of Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara House of Assembly including members of the public.
He said, in 2016, a direct complaint was filed at Upper Area Court, Omu-Aran against the person of HRH Oba Olusegun Abayomi Rotimi of Ayedun.” He was accused of forging document belonging to the community and relating to Iwoye Community. The case is UAC/CRF/35/2016- Niran Obaoye &1 Or. Vs Oba (Dr.) Olusegun O. Rotimi.
“A summon was issued against HRH Oba Olusegun Abayomi Rotimi by the Upper Area Court, Omu-Aran. The court fixed the hearing of the case for 16/8/2016. The Ministry of Justice appeared with a message from the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and discontinued the case citing the power of the Attorney General under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ”
Barr. Abolarin, explained further that, two men with the names Todimu Fayomi and Bisi Adebayo Arinde both of Ikotun and Moba compounds of Ayedun launched attack on Chief Adeyemi Afolayan, the Odofin of Ile Agbe.
“The two men forcefully removed the chieftaincy beads of the Chief from his neck and cut the hand beads he had on his wrist. The two men confessed that they were sent by Obajisun-in-Council. Two chiefs from Obajisun camp admitted that they actually sent the first set of the two men to act as they did. Following these confessions, the men of the State CIID charged the four suspects to court on 19/8/2021. The four suspects were in court while investigation continued.”
According to him, 30th September, 2021, the case was scheduled for further mention; a Chief State Counsel from the Ministry of Justice appeared, took over the prosecution of the case and presented a letter of discontinuance from the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
“The case was discontinued and terminated by the Honourable Magistrate, His Worship Muyiwa Abayomi.
“What is the interest of the Honourable Kwara State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ayedun and Iwoye matters.”
He said further that there is no doubt that certain special power were conferred on the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of a state by Section 211 of the Nigeria Construction.
“However,S.211(3) of the same Constitution guides the Attorney-General thus and I quote ” In exercising the Powers under this section, the Attorney General of a state shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal processes.”
Barr. Abolarin said that, the above two cases showed that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has bias, injustice, abuse of legal process and act clearly against Public interest.
He appealed to the Kwara State Governor Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to look into Public interest, in the interest of justice, in order to prevent a continued abuse of legal process and to caution the office of the Attorney-General and directs him to exercise his power judicially and judiciously.
