Unilorin rape/murder case: EndSars protest stalls hearing, matter adjourned till 8th November
By Sulyman Jimoh
The expected continuation of hearing of the 8 defendants standing trial for the murder of Miss Olajide Omowumi Blessing has been delayed due to inability of the accused to appear in court today.
According to a counsel to one of the accused, the defendants were unable to be brought to the court due to several reports of planned protest to mark the one year anniversary of the ENDSARS protest across the country.
The legal practitioner, who spoke under anonymity, however disclosed that the matter has been adjourned till 8th of November for the continuation of hearing.
Protests has been witness at several part of the country, report has it that several people have been arrested in Lagos, especially at the Lekki tollgate which is the epicentre of the protests.
However it has been relatively peaceful in Ilorin, with heavy presence of security operatives recorded at many strategic points in the capital of the state of harmony, one of such places is the Challenge-Post office axis.
Meanwhile, National Pilot had reported how Mother of one the suspects standing trial, has told the court that she was denied access to her son by officers of the Department Of State Security, DSS.
Mrs Akande Oladoja disclosed this at the continuation of hearing of the eight suspected killers of Omowumi Blessing at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin the Kwara State capital on Monday. The murder case which is still in trial within trial, saw the court listening to the testimony of Oladoja who is the mother of Taiye Akande Oladoja, the 8th suspect.
Taiye Akande was the first to be arrested among the eight suspects standing trial for the rape and gruesome murder of Miss Omowunmi Blessing in her room at Tanke, Ilorin in June. He was arrested on the 10th of June.
Called to the witness box, Mrs Oladoja told the court how she was barred by the officers of the Department of State Security, DSS from seeing her son, despite all her efforts. This was however denied by the security agency.
It will be recalled that, the counsel to the 8th defendant, Barr Lukman Bello in the past proceeding had alleged that Oladoja’s confessional statement was obtained through torture.
