An Ibadan Chief Magistrate Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan Friday remanded Mrs. Yewande Oyeniran, who allegedly stabbed her husband, Lowo Oyeniran, to death on February 2, 2016, at Akobo, Ibadan, in prison custody.
There was a mild drama at the premises of the court between the two family members of the couples, who were singing abusive songs against one another.
The presiding chief magistrate, Mrs Kehinde Durosaro-Tijani, in the case marked: MI/1539/2016, ordered that the accused should be remanded in Agodi Prisons and adjourned the case to February 16, for mention.
The prosecuting police officer, Inspector Amos Adewale, had preferred one-count charge against the suspect, who pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, told the court that Yewande on February 2, 2016 “at about 06:10am at No 30 Abidi Odan Akobo area, Ibadan in the Ibadan Magisterial District did unlawfully caused the death of one Oyelowo Oyediran, 38, by stabbing him with knife on the neck, which later resulted to his death.”
He further told the court that the accused had committed an offence contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
The lead defence counsel, Mr. Seun Abimbola, had applied that the court should remand Yewande in police custody because she was traumatised as a result of the incident, but the magistrate refused.
Abimbola further appealed that he would bring written application for the request to the court, but the court noted that it did not have jurisdiction to entertain such application based on the nature of the case.
But a fast one was played on the journalists that positioned themselves near the Black Maria that was to convey Yewande and other accused persons to Agodi Prisons. While waiting for Yewande to enter the Black Maria, some officials of the Nigerian Prisons Service threatened to attack the journalists and break their cameras.
However, the suspect was conveyed out of the court premises in a blue Primera Nissan car purportedly owns by a lawyer, while other accused persons meant to be remanded in Agodi Prisons were conveyed in a Black Maria.
When leaving the court room, Yewande was led downstairs through the staircases in the dock, which prevented journalists from capturing her picture. She was led through Court Five into the blue Nissan primera car probably to shield her from the waiting cameras of the journalists.
In his remark, a legal practitioner, Mr. Sina Olaniyan, described the accused as a person that has high regards for due process of the law and of good character.
“But this is a test for the judiciary. It is going to be a test for the Nigerian Bar Association as whole. The members of the public are watching to see where the pendulum of justice will swing. She is till presumed innocent until she is proved otherwise,” he added.
Similarly, another legal practitioner, Mr. Adeleke Bakare, described Yewande as a very amiable and gentle person, and a dedicated person to her job.
He added that: “She is somebody who fights against crime and she is always here, doing her job as a prosecutor, diligently.
“The person I have known that always discourage crime has now been involved a crime and it is a crime we can describe as of highest magnitude, which has highest punishment known to the law. Honestly, I am surprised.”
