JUSUN STRIKE: NBA OTA BRANCH - THE UTTER BAR FACILITATED RELEASE OF SUSPECTS

The Ogun State Judiciary under the able leadership of Hon. Justice M. A Dipeolu FICMC (Hon. Chief Justice of Ogun State) and Nigerian Bar Association, Ota Branch - the Utter Bar under the distinguished Chairmanship of J. T Ogunnyi FICMC, collaborate to bring solace to suspects in police custody despite the nationwide Judicial Staff Union (JUSUN) Strike. Suspects who were awaiting arraignment and had been in police custody for days and/or weeks were granted bail on the 10th day of May, 2021 by Mr. O. L. Oke, the Chief Magistrate of the Ota Magistrates’ Court under the extant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Other Related Matters Law of Ogun State (2017).

The suspects who were hitherto held in custody heaved sighs of relief and were speechless when they were set free on the 10th day of May, 2021. Mr. O. L. Oke, the Chief Magistrate ordered the release of about five (5) suspects at both the Sango and Onipanu Police Stations (Ogun State) under the Sango Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force which is ably led by the Area Commander - Mr. Muyideen Obe (CSP).

According to Mr. Godwin (CSP), the dutiful and professional Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Sango Police Station, the cells were getting congested, owing to the JUSUN strike. He had appealed to the Chief Magistrate and the Ota Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association to come to his aid, in decongesting the cells.

Consequently, the Ota Branch of the NBA, appealed to the Honourable Chief Judge who instructed the Chief Magistrate, to invoke His Worship’s powers under the law, to deal with the situation. With him is Magistrate B. S. Abdulsalam (Mrs.) and Mr. O. O. Odulami, the Assistant Chief Registrar of the Ota Magistrates’; and some members of the NBA, Ota branch. They visited the Sango and Onipanu police stations, and brought succour to the released suspects.

Other suspects with capital offences and Gender – Based Offences (GBV) will be transferred to the Ogun State Command of the Police, Eleweran – Abeokuta, Ogun State for further investigation. The Ogun State Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary and the police are expected to work out the modalities for dealing with such cases, despite the JUSUN strike.

Meanwhile, all the efforts are targeted at how to avoid over – population of the police cells and the likely calamities like epidemics, unnecessary deaths; and injustice.

Some of the members of the NBA Ota Branch, who were with the team are Mr. A. O. Adegoke, ( Vice Chairman), Mr. A. O. Daramola(Secretary), Mr. R. O. Okeowo, (Provost), Mrs. A. K. Abdulkareem (Financial Secretary) Mrs. R. E. Itua; Mr. Umanah Kokoete (YLF Chairman, NBA Ota Branch) Mr. O. A. Okeke and Mrs. Gloria Agbambu – Akinlade.

Chinelo Nonyelu - Olayanju Esq
PRO, NBA, Ota Branch - the Utter Bar.