Raji Vs Banik: Court Frowns At Continued Absence Of Adeleke’s Aide

Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, on Wednesday frowned at the continued absence of the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Alhaji Muniru Raji, in an ongoing defamation case against him.

Osun Defender reports that a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter, Prince Adebayo Adeleke, had taken Raji to court for allegedly defaming him.

When the matter came up in court today, Raji did not show up to retake his plea.

Justice Demi-Ajayi told the counsel to the defendant to stop making flimsy excuses for his absence in court.

Osun Defender reports that Raji accused the former Commissioner of allegedly taking a contract from the administration of the former Governor Olagunsoye Oyetole and running away with the contract sum without executing the project, a situation that led to his arrest for defamation of character and subsequent arraignment before the court.

READ: Documents Reveal How Oyetola’s Commissioner, Banik Allegedly Got, Abandoned N57m Road Project In Osun

At the hearing of the case on Wednesday, neither Muniru nor his lawyer, Naim Adekilekun, was present in court, but a counsel informed the court that he got a call from Naim earlier in the day that he should apologise to the court on his behalf.

According to him, “I got a call from Naim Adekilekun this morning that I should apologize to My Lord for his absence because he was not aware that the case is coming up today and his client too is not aware”.

In response, the presiding judge frowned at making such flimsy excuses, saying the court does not always accept it as the defendant should be more interested in the case than any other person because his liberty is at stake.

According to the judge, when lawyers lump the absence of counsel with that of the defendant, the court is always bad about it, saying it amounts to encouraging them not to take the court seriously

Subsequently, the presiding judge adjourned the matter till March 5, 2025.