By Sade Adewale, Ondo & Ayodele Popoola

A 38-year-old man, Adekunle Kuteyi, who allegedly stabbed his wife’s lawyer, Abayomi Oladire, while he was performing his legal duty, has been arraigned before an Akure Magistrates’ Court.

The defendant, who resides at Akinnawonu in the Italuowo area, Ondo City, was arrested by men of the Amotekun Corps following a complaint by the victim. He was subsequently charged with two counts of cultism and attempted murder.

The defendant had reportedly used a broken bottle to stab the lawyer for allegedly preparing a divorce suit for his wife against him.

The state counsel, O.F. Akeredolu, told the court that the defendant committed the offense at about 4 p.m. on July 14, 2024, in Ondo town.

Akeredolu alleged that the defendant attempted to kill the complainant, Oladire, by stabbing him in the back and other parts of his body with a broken bottle while he was performing his lawful duty, thereby inflicting a life-threatening injury on him.

He also alleged that the defendant was involved in cultism and hidden cult activities.

Against this backdrop, Akeredolu, through a written application, urged the court to remand the defendant in the correctional center pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The offenses contravened Sections 320(1)(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37 Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006, as well as Section 1(1) Vol. 2 of the Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The lawyer for the defendant, Kehinde Osadugba, prayed for an adjournment to enable his client to reply to the application sought by the prosecution.

The Magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, adjourned the case until August 16 for the reply and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Olokuta Correctional Centre.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ondo Chapter, Anthony Olagundoye, has promised to pursue the case to its logical conclusion and ensure that justice is achieved.

Olagundoye, in an interview with The Hope Metro in Ondo, said it would serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of attacking and assaulting lawyers at work.