Seun Oladapo, the suspected killer of Lagos human right lawyer, Kunle Fadipe, is likely to be defended by the Office of Public Defender (OPD).
Trial judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, directed the accused on Monday to seek legal representation from the public-spirited body.
The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, where Ipaye presided, gave the directive when the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions brought the suspect before her for arraignment.
Ipaye, observing that Oladapo had no legal representation, said the suspect could not be arraigned in the absence of his lawyer because of the weight of the charge against him.
The judge, therefore advised the suspect to approach the OPD if he could not afford the services of a lawyer, emphasising that the court would not wait till eternity.
Oladapo was arrested by men of the Oodua Peoples Congress at Harmony Estate, Ifako Ijaye, Lagos on the night of July 3, 2014 after he allegedly stabbed Fadipe to death.
Oladapo was arrested by men of the Oodua Peoples Congress at Harmony Estate, Ifako Ijaye, Lagos on the night of July 3, 2014 after he allegedly stabbed Fadipe to death.
On Monday, when the case was called in court, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, informed the judge of the charges filed by the state against Oladapo and sought the permission of the court to take the plea of the suspect. Ipaye, however demanded to know about Oladapo’s legal representation, seeing that he had no lawyer.
The suspect however said, “I will call my family; I didn’t know that they will bring me to court today.”
The suspect however said, “I will call my family; I didn’t know that they will bring me to court today.”
Consequent upon this, the judge indicated that the case would have to be adjourned but charged the suspect to, as a matter of urgency, secure the services of a lawyer, saying the court could not wait for him till eternity
Nigerian Tribune
