Court Issues Bench Warrant Arrest of an Alleged Notorious Land Grabber
Justice Adenike Coker of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court has issued a bench warrant of arrest against an alleged notorious land grabber, Moroof Owonla, known as Kaka Moroof and others over their absence in court in an ongoing alleged felony trial filed against them.
The matter has suffered several adjournments due to the defendants’ absence in court since the case was filed against them.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, filed eight-count charges against Moroof Owonla, Olu-Aminu, Yemisi Abdulaziz, and Ganiyu Aminu for alleged conspiracy to commit a felony.
They were alleged of forcible entry into a landed property situated at No 34, Faguson Osagie Street. The defendants, with thugs numbering about 20, invaded the hotel (property) with the intent to deprive a businessman, Hassan Alli, of his property.
They carted away building materials valued at over N32 million.
However, at the last proceeding, the judge ordered the defendants’ counsel to produce the defendants for arraignment in the suit.
At the resumed hearing, counsel from the DPP’s office, Ms T.O. Adeyegbe, told the court that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), had directed the matter be forwarded to Restorative Justice to see if a resolution could be achieved.
Responding to her submission, the complainant’s counsel, Mr Imran Shitta-Bey, informed the court that on January 17, the complainant received a letter from the Attorney General to attend an Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) meeting and was surprised to see the fugitive defendants, Moroof Owonla and others, in attendance. This indicates that the DPP knows how to invite and present the defendants for trial.
Shitta-bey stated that the complainant views the defendants as disrespectful of the court, having refused to come to court to take their plea and being able to attend ADR.
He noted that their nonappearance is deliberate, so he is seeking a bench warrant or arrest against them.
After listening to them, Justice Coker ordered the prosecution to ensure that the defendants were in court on the next adjourned date. Failing which, the court would be inclined to accede to the complainant counsel’s prayer for a bench warrant against the defendants.
The DPP legal advice has recommended that the trial of the suspected notorious land grabber be a follow-up to a diligent investigation carried out by the police, and the report issued after that indicted all the defendants.
The judge then granted the prayer and issued a bench warrant against the defendants. The matter was subsequently adjourned until May 13 for possible arraignment of the defendants.