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Chidiebere’s murder: Stir in court  as accused pleads guilty

By Sunmola Olowookere
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There was a mild drama at an Ondo State High Court on Thursday when Saliu Oludayo, accused of stabbing Confidence Chidiebere  hiss teenage girlfriend to death in Akure pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him during the hearing of the case.

Saliu Oludayo on  May 15, 2018 around Oshinle in Akure was alleged to have stabbed Confidence Chidiebere on the chest  which led to her death.

Lawyers and other people who were in attendance in the court during the  hearing  were  stunned when the accused pleaded guilty as they began to murmur while some whispered to him “ how could you have  pleaded guilty, change you plea”

The accused person however did not respond to their urgings  but  hung his head in dejection.

The presiding judge, Justice Samuel Bola who had earlier looked surprised at his untutored answer rather than going ahead to pronounce judgement on him as is the usual practice when an accused person pleads guilty in a criminal trial, simply smiled and told the court registrar before him ” he pleads not guilty “.

The registrar nodded obediently and repeated after the Judge ” he pleads not guilty ” and the plea of not guilty was entered for him in the court records.

It would be recalled that Saliu Oludayo was alleged to have stabbed one Confidence Chidiebere on the chest which had led to her death on May 15, 2018 around Osinle area, in the Akure metropolis.

The case was earlier heard at the Magistrate court but was later transferred to the High court as the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

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The prosecuting counsel, John Dada Joshua told the court that he had his first witness in court who was the mother of the deceased, Chidiebere and was ready for trial.

The case however suffered a hitch as the accused person who had on a top prison shirt which had been torn and tattered pink short informed the court that he had no legal representation.

He professed to have a lawyer whom he saw last at the Ondo state Police Special Investigation Bureau before the case was charged to court.

At this point, a lawyer in the court, one Olugbenga Adewumi offered to represent the accused person who was looking very sad and remorseful.

The presiding judge advised the accused person not to wait for a defense counsel he saw last at the police station and accept the offer of the counsel offering to help so that his case can have accelerated hearing.

Justice Samuel Bola thereafter adjourned the case till January 16, 2019 for definite hearing.

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