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The case of Yewande Oyeniran, the lawyer who allegedly murdered her husband, Lowo Oyeniran at their home in Ibadan two weeks ago has been transferred to the state High Court.
The case was mentioned in Ibadan Chief Magistrate Court, Iyaganku, on Tuesday. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Kehinde Durosaro-Tijani adjourned till March 1, 2016. But Amos Adewale, the investigating police officer informed the Chief Magistrate Court that based on legal advice from the state, the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.
There was also heated debate about how Yewande appeared in court. She had her face covered with a veil and this angered the deceased’s family and their lawyer, Kehinde Adesiyan.
Yewande’s lawyer, Oluseun Abimbola, argued that there was nothing wrong in protecting her client by covering her face. He said that the day’s proceeding was just for mention.
“Maybe it’s a personal opinion of the individual. It is not wrong to cover one’s face in court.” he said.
But Adesiyan likened Yewande’s veiled appearance in court to a masquerade appearing before the court.
He said:
“The covering of Yewande’s face is unknown to law. It is alien to our jurisprudent. It is just like a masquerade appearing before a court. A masquerade is not a juristic person before the court. We did not raise the eyebrow on this today because we know that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the court. When we get to the High Court, I am sure she will not be able to do that.”
He explained that an accused person could be protected for fear of being molested by the public, but said it was wrong to cover the accused face in the court.
On the transfer of the case to the High Court, the lawyer said:
“What happened in court today is that the accused person was presented as a routine to the court that lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case. The case has been adjourned but we have been authoritatively informed that information has been filed before the court that has the jurisdiction to hear the case, which is the High Court. The matter is commencing tomorrow (today).
Yewande was taken back to Agodi prison after the proceeding.