Admin l Friday, February 26, 2021
IKEJA, Nigeria – The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has reacted to a story published in Premium Times alleging that the state government is responsible for keeping the defendant, Ms Titilayo Benson (No. LD/92/13) who is facing trial for murder in detention without trial for six years.
But in a statement setting the matter straight, Kayode Oyekanmi, Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Justice said contrary to the allegations in the online publication, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions carried out all that was required to prosecute the matter but that the defendant was never produced from Kirikiri Female Correctional Centre despite series of production warrants to appear at the High Court.
“Upon receipt of the casefile in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on 20 April 2012, legal advice was issued and the defendant was charged to the High Court on the 22 March 2013 before Hon. Justice O. Taiwo for prosecution.
“During the pendency of the matter, the defendant was represented in court by one C.K Emele on 2 November 2016 and 1 March 2017 by one O.E. Ashade, yet the defendant remain unproduced in court despite several production warrants issued to produce her”, the ministry said.
It added that given the gravity of the offence alleged against the defendant and the length of time spent in custody, the Director Public Prosecution has forthwith been directed to explore plea and sentence bargain in the matter.
