Complainant Declines Plea Bargain For Murder Suspects In Lagos
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijede Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, Oluwatosin Onamade, has rejected a plea bargain approved by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), for five murder suspects.
Onamade voiced his opposition on Monday during a hearing before Justice Hakeem Oshodi at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
The defendants—Atunrase Sodiq Omolabi (28), Shittu Michael Olawale (28), Olaide Opeifa (40), Olanrewaju Adebiyi aka Maja (35), and Jamiu Omosanya aka Orobo—are charged with seven counts, including murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, wilful property damage, unlawful society (cultism), breach of peace, and conspiracy.
They are accused of murdering Ifeanyi Godfrey Etunmuse at Western Funeral Home, Ijede, Ikorodu, on April 16, 2021, during the buildup to the local government election. Onamade, who owns the company where the incident occurred, was also a candidate in that election.
During Monday’s hearing, prosecution counsel Michael Adewoye informed the court that the Lagos Attorney-General had approved a plea bargain application submitted by the defence for four defendants. Adewoye confirmed that the approval letter had been sent, with terms to be finalised.
Defence counsel Olanrewaju Ajanaku, representing four defendants, acknowledged the plea bargain process. However, Mahmood Adesina (SAN), counsel for the fourth defendant, urged the court to proceed with the trial, stating, “We should not close our eyes and just ignore the trial.”
Onamade expressed strong objections, accusing the prosecutors of failing to protect his interests. “We do not support this plea bargain. It denies us our rights,” he said. He further alleged that the defendants had access to phones in prison and had been issuing threats.
“The prosecutors are no longer on our side, and we’ve lost confidence in them. We know the stress we went through before we could arrest and bring the suspects to court,” Onamade told the court, adding that he had petitioned the Lagos Attorney-General and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu against the plea deal.
In response, Justice Oshodi acknowledged Onamade’s efforts but stated, “My hands are tied,” explaining that reversing the Attorney-General’s approval was beyond his authority. The case was adjourned to January 25, 2025, for further trial proceedings and final discussions on the plea bargain terms.
