LAGOS high court sitting in Ikeja, on Wednesday, frowned at the piecemeal approach being used by the defence in the ongoing trial of youth pastor, Akolade Arowolo, who is alleged to have murdered his banker-wife, Titilayo. At the resumed hearing of the matter, Justice Lateefa Okunnu, expressed her displeasure at the manner Akolade’s counsel, Olanrewaju Ajanaku was handling the matter.Justice Okunnu was particularly disappointed at Ajanaku for failing to produce all the witnesses and documents needed to defend his case and ensure a speedy trial.
Three witnesses were already scheduled to testify on Wednesday for the defence, but one of them did not show up.
The development drew the ire of Justice Okunnu, as she believed the counsel was indulging in tricks to delay trial.
“I frown at the piecemeal method of the defence counsel. I fine him N2,500 to be paid from his personal pocket. He is to make the payment with an affidavit.”
According to her, she had to take the step because of the negligence of the defence counsel “in producing all witnesses in court after two months of adjournment.”
Earlier, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Eucharia Enofe, had testified as a defence witness.
Enofe, who was formerly working at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos, said, “I know about the matter; it was transferred to us on June 27, 2011 and I was the team leader with four personnel.
“The suspect and the exhibits transferred included a case file, knife and hammer.
“We were led by the head of department to the scene at lsolo. When we got there, the door was broken. We went to the bedroom and saw clothes scattered all over the room with blood stains and a piece of flesh on the bed. There were also blood stains on the floor.
“At the penthouse, we saw a pair of jeans soaked with blood and phones. We moved from there to the Lagos State University mortuary, where we saw the corpse and observed a stab on her chest.
“When the defendant was brought to our office, there was a cut on his palm and bruises on his body. He was detained, but allowed to attend to his visitors.
“Sometimes, he complained of pains, so he was taken to the police clinic in Falomo.
He always cry when we bring him and when asked why he killed his wife, he would cry and say “l don’t believe my wife is dead.”
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