Funke Busari, Lagos
Trial of alleged killer of a-34 year old lawyer Mrs. Feyitayo Obot continued on Monday before a Lagos State High court sitting in Ikeja.
The defendant, Joshua Usulor however denied his purported confessional statement regarding the killing of the deceased in her hotel room in Opebi, Ikeja on 23rd January, 2019.
During a trial-within-trial before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, the judge heard the testimony of the 20-year old student of Oduduwa University, Osun State to determine the genuiness or otherwise of the statement presented against him by the prosecution.
The defendant told the court that the statement he made and signed at the police station upon his arrest where involuntarily made.
According to his testimony, “I was forced and bullied to sign the statement.”
Earlier, he narrated to the court how he was arrested on 28th February, 2019 and stated that he was threatened and tortured.
He said the Police Inspector, one Supol Babalola and another police officer hit him with cutlass and a baton.
He explained that he was injured on his head, knee, nose and ribs.
While being cross-examined by the Prosecution Counsel during the proceeding, the defendant insisted that he did not write the statement he signed because it was dictated to him by Mr. Babalola, a police officer.
Another witness who happened to be the suspect’s father, Mr. Jonathan Usulor narrated further, “On the 28th February, 2019, around 4:00p.m, one of my friends, said he saw my son being taken to the Police Station.”
He said on getting there he saw his son in a pitiable situation bleeding on his head and was already injured on his knee. He added that he could not stand on his feet and had bandages on him.
He said that when he was directed to meet Babalola, the Police officer requested for money so as to get his son treated.
“I gave N30,000 to Mr. Babalola, the IPO for the treatment of my son.”
He emphasized that he could remember the exact point he gave the Investigative Police Officer the money if the prosecutor was ready to go with him to the police station.
He alleged further that the policeman and woman on duty advised he bring a ‘bigger’ money or else they won’t continue his treatment, the suspect’s father said.
Meanwhile the judge ordered the counsel to file their written submission within 14 days and adjourned till October 19, 2020 for adoption of written addresses on trial-within-trial.
