“They Must Be Represented By Counsel” — Court Adjourns FRSC Officer, Daughter’s Alleged Murder Case To December 8

The arraignment of three men accused of involvement in the alleged murder of a Federal Road Safety Corps officer, Funmilayo Lasisi, and her daughter, Adesewa, was stalled on Monday before the Osun State High Court in Osogbo following the absence of defence counsel.

The defendants, Gboyega Daramola, 39; Sunday James, 38; and Fajemirokun Victor, 36, were brought before Justice Yinka Aderibigbe by officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service, but the charge could not be read and their pleas were not taken because no lawyer appeared to represent them.

An Assistant Director in the Osun State Ministry of Justice, Muyiwa Ogunleye, announced appearance for the prosecution.

Ogunleye also informed the court that the defendants had yet to be served with copies of the information and other court processes relating to the case, assuring the court that service would be effected before the next sitting.

Justice Aderibigbe consequently adjourned the case until December 8, 2026, for the defendants to enter their pleas and for possible commencement of hearing.

The judge also directed that the defendants must be represented by counsel at the next sitting and urged journalists covering the proceedings to report the case fairly and diligently to avoid misinformation.

Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Ogunleye explained that the arraignment could not proceed because of the nature of the charge and the absence of lawyers for the defendants.

“The defendants were to be arraigned today, and they were brought to court this morning, but they were not represented by any lawyer. That is why the case could not go ahead,” he said.

“Going by the offence they have been charged with, which is a capital offence, they must be represented by counsel. Also, on our side, we are yet to serve them a copy of the information, which we have promised the court will be done before the next adjournment.”

Ogunleye said an attempt to serve the defendants on Monday was unsuccessful after officials of the Correctional Centre requested that the documents be taken to the Ilesa Correctional Centre.

He said a colleague had been directed to serve the information and hearing notice on the defendants on October 13, 2026.

The prosecutor also disclosed that the state had lined up eight witnesses for the trial, comprising four police officers and four civilian witnesses.

“The case has been adjourned to December 8 for the plea of the defendants and possible hearing of the case. We will ensure we bring our witnesses on that day and open our case,” Ogunleye said.

He added that the prosecution hoped to have a substantial number of its witnesses available when the trial commences.

The three defendants had earlier appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in connection with the deaths of Lasisi, an FRSC officer attached to the Ogun State Command, and her daughter.

At the Magistrates’ Court, the Osun State Commissioner of Police had filed an ex parte application seeking their remand pending legal advice from the Ministry of Justice.

In an affidavit supporting the application, the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Babawale Taiwo, asked the court to remand the defendants pending advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The defendants were thereafter remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre.

The allegations against them have not been determined by the court.

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