Ekiti withdraws murder case against APC chairman, others

The Ekiti State government on Wednesday ordered for the withdrawal of alleged murder case leveled against the state chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Jide Awe, and other members of the party.

The Ekiti State APC chairman, his aide, and other members of the party have been on trial on the allegation that they murdered Madam Juliana Adewunmi, mother of Segun Adewunmi, the incumbent deputy speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, and one Murphy Jeje in 2013.

The murdered persons were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, in a statement by Fayose’s spokesman, Idowu Adelusi, he said that following the order of the governor that the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kolapo Kolade, at High Court 7, Ado Ekiti, on Wednesday, before Justice Bamidele Omotosho, filed an application for the withdrawal of the case against Awe and others accused in the murder case.

The statement quoted Kolade as explaining to the court that the state government decided to withdraw the case in order to promote peace and brotherliness among the people of Erinjiyan Ekiti, which is the community where both the complainant and the defendants in the matter hail from.

Justice Omotosho, while granting application for the withdrawal of the case said that the court supported the development because it was to promote peace.

Kolade had told newsmen afterward, “What happened in court today is far beyond politics. The governor in his usual characteristic manner of promoting peace and brotherliness in all communities in Ekiti and across party lines has intervened.

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“In this matter, so many good people across Nigeria, even the defendants in this matter, have appealed to His Excellency to intervene in this matter, particularly in Erijinran, more so as the defendants and complainant are of same family.

“The complainants have said the matter should be withdrawn. This development equally supports the cause of justice. One of the cardinal principles of justice is promotion of peace. The major beneficiary is Chief Jide Awe, the APC chairman in Ekiti State.

“He, alongside his aide and other party members were alleged to have murdered late Madam Juliana Adewunmi, mother of the Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State, and Murphy Jeje, a member of the PDP, in 2013. The complainant is the Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.”

 

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