Encomium
THE Magistrate Court, Ota, Ogun State, had on Monday, September 14, 2015, remanded Kunle Kushimo (Agarawu), the assailant of popular media practitioner and entertainment promoter, Soji Omotayo, otherwise known as SOJ.
The decision of the Ogun State Police Command to charge the case to court may have dashed the hope of the victim, Omotayo, who had insisted that the case be transferred to Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos for proper investigations.
An inside source disclosed to ENCOMIUM Weekly that Agarawu, who was released by Onipanu Police Division, Ota, on Sunday, August 23, the same day he was arrested for allegedly matcheting Omotayo, was re-arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Agarawu was said to have been arrested and detained on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, and was expected to be brought to Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, on Friday, September 11, 2015, on request by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone for proper investigation on the allegation of attempted murder and threat to life as contained in the petition filed by the complainant.
“Today, Monday, September 14, 2015, Ogun State Police Command has charged Kunle Kushimo (Agarawu) to Magistrate Court, Ota, Ogun State for attempted murder and threat to life allegedly committed on Soji Omotayo. I learnt the court has remanded Agarawu till October 29, 2015, when hearing on the case will begin.
“But I learnt SOJ and his lawyer were against the arrangement as they had earlier filed a petition that the case be moved to Zone 2 because of lack of confidence in the way the Ogun Police Command is handling the case.
“I learnt that both Soji Omotayo and his lawyer were not properly notified that the case will be charged to court by Ogun State Police Command. They were not even expecting it because Zone 2 has sent a letter to the State CID, Eleweran that the zone is interested in the case and the prime suspect and the case file be transferred to Zone 2 Headquarters on Friday, September 11, 2015. But now, the command had flouted the rule and disregarded the superior authority by going ahead with the case. And with the situation of things now, the hope of Soji Omotayo to get proper investigation has been dashed. And that didn’t go down well with him and his lawyer.”
Reacting to the development, Omotayo condemned the action of Ogun State Command for allegedly disregarding the AIG’s order. He, therefore, insisted that the arrangement to take his assailant to court without being properly informed is unacceptable. He, however, suspected foul play in the handling of the case by Ogun State Police Command.
“I was surprised to hear that Agarawu had been charged to Magistrate Court, Ota, Ogun State this morning and remanded by the court, despite the order from Zone 2 Headquarters to bring him for proper investigations.
“My personal assistant, Bukola Abdul just told me that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) at Eleweran, Sergeant Saka Ilufoye called her to tell me of the development. He claimed he had called me and my lawyer but couldn’t reach us. How can he just call me on Monday morning that same time we’re supposed to meet in court?
“And as at the time my PA called me, I was still receiving treatment at the hospital while my lawyer, Barr. Kunle Olapade was in Ikeja High Court for other issues because he was not briefed of any development like that at all. He was at the Ogun State Police Command last week, precisely on Friday, September 11, to let them know we wanted the case transferred to Zone 2 and a signal had been sent to that effect even before that Friday. Zone 2 being a superior authority to Ogun State Police Command and other commands under it had ordered that the command should hands off the case. Now, they insisted on going ahead with it. I don’t know why that kind of kangaroo arrangement will be done. And I am sure what they are trying to do is to get Agarawu out on bail and he will now be coming from home to court on Thursday, October 29, 2015, for a case of that magnitude.
2121“Even the main exhibit of that attack which is the cutlass Agarawu used on me has not been recovered by the police. Also, my medical report has not been presented. I am still in pains receiving treatment. So, I am confused. I don’t know what’s really happening.”
Asked what he wants from the Nigeria Police on the matter, he stated, “All I need is justice. I want justice to prevail. That’s why I want the higher authority to handle the case. And I believe the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should be aware of the case by now. I want Agarawu to face the music so that he can serve as deterrent to others who are also into criminal acts like him. And I want people to learn from what happened to me that no one should be trusted no matter the relationship except God.”
Omotayo’s wife, Abimbola, who was also contacted on phone by Agarawu before the latter allegedly matcheted her husband pleaded with all well meaning Nigerians to intervene in the matter so that her husband could get justice.
“It was like a joke when Agarawu spoke to me on phone on Sunday, August 23, 2015, that he would slaughter my husband and send his flesh to me. I was shocked and quickly picked my car and drove to his house where I met a lot of people. I was asked to go to Onipanu Police Station, were I saw my husband soaked in his blood. I held Agarawu’s clothes, challenging him. Before I knew it, he kicked me and tore my cloth right in front of the station. He even said, ‘Do you think I am joking, I told you I will kill your husband.’ I have never heard that kind of thing in my life.
“What we want from the police is justice. My husband had informed Zone 2 Headquarters at Onikan, Lagos, of the case. And the zone had ordered Ogun State Police Command to transfer the case to them for proper investigation. But to our surprise, we just heard that Agarawu had been charged to Magistrate Court, Ota, Ogun State and has been remanded by the court.
“All we want is justice and security of our lives now. We’re appealing to all Nigerians to come to our aid.”
Also, key witness in the case, SOJ’s PA, Bukola Abdul said, “As at last week, precisely Tuesday, September 8, 2015, we went to Onipanu Police Station. We’re told that the case had been transferred to Eleweran. And petition had been sent from Zone 2 to Onipanu and Eleweran on the case. But when we got to Eleweran on Friday, all efforts to get the file transferred to Zone 2 that day were not successful. They told us the officer that will sign the file was not around. Then after it had been signed it’s not yet transferred to Zone 2 despite the order from the AIG. And our lawyer insisted that the case must be transferred to Zone 2 that day. But to my surprise, the IPO at Eleweran just called me this morning that he has been trying to reach my boss on phone but couldn’t get through. He said they have taken the case to court this morning and when he called me back to give me the outcome, he said Agarawu had been remanded and will be produced in court on Thursday, October 29, 2015, when hearing of the case will begin.
“Left to me, I am not sure Agarawu is being remanded as claimed by the police. We’re suspecting foul play because for the command to have held on to the case that was supposed to be transferred to Zone 2, there must be something fishy. And I believe we have the right to transfer the case to Zone 2.
“All we need is justice from the police and the judiciary. Agarawu must experience the full wrath of the law for the crime. Police should prove to all Nigerians that there is still rule of law in Nigeria and which I hope shall prevail in this matter.
“Even what happened that day was also a threat to my life. I was even rough handled by Agarawu. I am just recovering from the shock. Even my boss sustained beyond external injuries. If I wasn’t there that day, the story would have been otherwise. I am sure all well meaning Nigerians won’t want the case to be swept under the carpet.”
However, ENCOMIUM Weekly reached out to Ogun State Police Command, via its spokesperson, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, but he said he’s not aware of the case. He promised to make his findings and get back to us which he didn’t do till we went to press. “I will find out. Not aware of this as a person. Thanks.”
– TADE ASIFAT
