An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates' Court has ordered the consolidation of two cases on the murder of a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member, Mr. Ayo Jeje, in Erijiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State on March 31.
While Chief Magistrates' Court 111 headed by Chief Magistrate Simeon Ojo, is trying the state Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the murder, Magistrates' Court 1 is handling the case of four others allegedly involved in the killing.
In his ruling yesterday, Ojo said the two cases would be consolidated because they were on the same matter.
Subsequently, the magistrate ruled that the matter be transferred to Chief Magistrates' Court 1 for mention on October 18, 2013.
Ojo agreed with the oral application by the prosecutor, the Deputy Director, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Mr. O. P. Alabi; that since Chief Magistrates' Court 1 was also hearing similar matter against the accused, there was need to consolidate the matters so that energy would not be dissipated unnecessarily.
Jeje, a former member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, was shot dead on the eve of his defection to PDP in Erijiyan-Ekiti, while others including 70-year-old Mrs. Juliana Adewumi, who later died at the Federal Medical Centre, Ido- Ekiti, sustained gunshot injuries in the attack on PDP members.
Consequently, Awe and four others were charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and disruption of public peace.
Alabi had filed another oral application for an adjournment of the matter to allow the office of the DPP enough time to study the case file.
He said the DPP took over the prosecution of the matter from the police and was yet to be furnished with details by the police.
Alabi added that since the accused were already facing similar charges in another court, it would be appropriate to consolidate the two cases.
In his submission, counsel to the accused, Mr. Adetunji Oso, agreed with the prosecutor, while Mr Bunmi Olugbade, who held a watching brief in the matter, did not object.
National Mirror