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 DRAMA AT ISOLO THRONE HEARING AS PROSECUTION CAME TO COURT WITHOUT CASE FILE

Tuesday 12th November 2024, Court 24 of the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State High Court again hosted an unprecedented large crowd as Isolo Throne case was billed for hearing.

Supporters of both parties had started arriving the court premises as early as 8 a.m. in anticipation of the opening of the fresh suit challenging the nomination of Prince Jimmy Adetokunbo Yekini-Goloba as the Osolo-elect by Prince Saheed Ishola Aregbesola (a.k.a SA 400).Other applicants in the suit are Chief Taoridi Faronbi (Alado), Chief Rasak Akinsanya Alabe, Alhaji Wasiu Awofe Aregbe Alabe and Mr. Tajudeen Omolade Alabe for themselves and on behalf of Alagbeji Ruling Family of Isolo.

At exactly 10:30 a.m. when appearances were announced, the prosecution counsel, Barr. M.B. Jimoh-Akogun was conspicuously absent even though his colleague, Barr. A.O. Usman informed the court Jimoh-Akogun would be joining proceedings later claiming he was held up somewhere on another court matter.

As soon as the defence counsels announced their appearances starting with Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun (SAN), Barr. Jimoh-Akogun scampered into the court premises much to the consternation of the. court audience.

As if that was not enough surprise, they were left completely bewildered when the prosecution counsel claimed he thought the case was listed for 11 a.m. rather than earlier. This excuse drew the ire of the presiding judge, Justice M.A. Savage who drew the attention of Prof. Fagbohun to know if the matter was truly billed for 11 a.m. as claimed by the prosecution counsel. 

But Prof. Fagbohun could not affirm this claim as cases involving Senior Advocates of Nigeria are usually heard before other cases as a mark of respect to the legal luminaries. Barr. Jimoh-Akogun nevertheless apologized for his lateness.

Interestingly, more drama ensued when Justice Savage eventually signalled the kick-off of proceedings. Surprisingly and quite unexpected, the prosecution counsel said he could not start his arguments because he had left the case file in his car at another court much to the consternation of the judge, defence counsels and the entire court room. The judge asked the prosecution if they would request for a 30 minutes break for them to produce the case file so that the case could begin but that opportunity was thwarted as the prosecution could not make any commitment on that regards.

The presiding judge then turned to Prof. Fagbohun to know if he was ready to proceed. The senior lawyer affirmed his readiness, claiming he had filed his responses to the prosecution's application which Barr. Jimoh-Akogun claimed to have received hitherto that of the 7th Defendant's counsel.

With no significant signs of readiness from the prosecution, Judge Savage requested both parties to agree on a date for adjournment. The matter was, however, adjourned to 11th of December 2024.

However, the prosecution counsel pleaded with the presiding judge to allow status-quo to remain, a request which was dismissed by the judge, having earlier vacated the interim injunction placed on the defendants in his ruling on 28th October 2028.