Photo: IGP Egbetokun blocks Ogungbade attempt to halt ‘Killers’ trial
The Nigerian Police Force and human rights lawyer, Olayinka Sanni have expressed concerns over an alleged unholy alliance between the Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Oluwashina Ogungbade and a serial murder suspect, Elijah Adeogun (AKA Killer).
It was gathered that suspicion over the connection between the state’s chief of justice and the murder suspect was sparked by numerous interventions by Ogungbade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to save Adeogun, who was arrested over the recent killing of five persons, including one Saheed Jinadu Shoboyode.
The Nation newspaper report on Sunday claimed that but for the switch intervention of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, Adeogun would have been released from detention where he is been investigated for the murder of Shoboyede and others.
According to the report, Adeogun, accused of multiple murders, was arrested last week and transferred to Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The murder suspect, it was learnt, was released from a similar detention in January, when the Ogun Attorney General issued a Nolle Prosequi to drop an earlier murder charge.
Nolle prosequi (to be unwilling to pursue in Latin), is a legal term used in common law for a prosecutor’s declaration that they will not pursue a criminal case, either in whole or in part.
It was learnt that by declaring Nolle Prosequi the AG essentially freed the suspect from standing trial.
However, the Ileke ruling family of Osuke, seeking justice for Shoboyede’s murder, petitioned the IGP, alleging local police interference, prompting IGP Egbetokun to direct AIG Zone 2 to take over the case.
The Zonal Command declared Adeogun wanted and arrested him alongside four others.
However, in a letter dated March 19, Ogungbade attempted to take over the case again. Suspecting political interference, AIG Fayoade, under IGP Egbetokun’s orders, moved the suspects to Abuja for further investigation and potential prosecution.
AIG Fayoade confirmed the case transfer, stating, “They attempted to take over while it was still under investigation, but the matter has now been moved to Abuja.”
The report added that a similar charge against Killer and others were dropped when the AG waded in in January, through a letter to the police.
“I, Oluwasira Ogungbade SAN, Attorrey-General of Ogun State, by the power conferred on me by section 211(1)(b&c)of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 115(1)of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Other Related Matters Laws of Ogun State, 2017, hereby withdraw and discontinue the charge and all criminal proceedings against the defendants in respect of charge No:HCT/46C/2022,” the letter which was seen by our Correspondent read in parts.
With the discontinuation of the trial on the killing of one Monday Eredua, The Nation reported that Adeogun was released from the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) where he was awaiting trial only to be accused of committing further murders including that of Shoboyede upon his return to the community.
Human rights lawyer Olayinka Sanni has urged Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun to investigate officials of the Ministry of Justice, questioning the Attorney General’s repeated interventions in Adeogun’s cases.
He accused the ministry of obstructing justice, noting that Adeogun, always arrested for murder, is consistently freed via Nolle Prosequi.
Sanni also cited a recent murder on February 27, 2025, allegedly involving Adeogun’s gang, with video evidence in police custody.
He called for an inquiry into the Ministry of Justice’s actions, stating, “Why does the Attorney General keep intervening in cases involving this suspect?”
