Justice Bayo Taiwo of the Oyo State High Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing in a case between the State and Mukaila Lamidi, popularly known as “Auxiliary”, till Dec. 5.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge, sitting at Fiat Court 2 at Ring Road in Ibadan, made the adjournment when prosecution of the 63-year-old Lamidi resumed.
Lamidi is the former Chairman of Disciplinary Committee of Oyo State Park Management System (PMS), and his case was transferred from Justice O. A. Adetujoye of Fiat Court 5.
His counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, had on Nov. 4 objected to allowing Adetujoye hear two cases involving his client.
This led to the case file being returned to the state’s Chief Judge for reassignment.
When hearing resumed, Lamidi pleaded not guilty to the 18-count charge brought against him.
The state prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mr S. O. Adeoye, opened the trial by calling witnesses before the court.
Two witnesses —- Mr Fatai Isiaka and Mr Ademola Johnson —- were called to give their oral testimonies, with 16 more listed to appear before the court to testify against the defendant.
The witnesses in their separate accounts narrated how Lamidi had attacked some suspected factional members of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state.
Isiaka and Johnson said this occurred at Gov. Seyi Makinde’s residence after the attacked persons showed up to felicitate the governor on his swearing-in for a second term in office.
The witnesses were later cross-examined by Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Earlier, the defence had raised concerns about plans to apply for bail.
But the court held that the case should continue and the issue of bail application might be considered during the next hearing.
NAN reports that Lamidi is currently facing trial on an 18-count charge bordering on armed robbery, murder, attempted murder, possession of firearms.
The firearms included one AK-47 assault rifle and two SMG rifles with magazines.
The offence, according to the charge sheet, is punishable under Section 1(2)(a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP RII, Vol. 14, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecution had said the offences were committed at about 2 p.m on May 29 in 2023 at Gov. Seyi Makinde’s residence at Ikolaba in Ibadan.(NAN)
