Attempted murder: Witness ‘vanishes’ before testifying in court

There was a mild drama at an Ikeja High Court on Thursday when a prosecution witness, Chief Taiwo Okeowo, “disappeared” just as he was about to testify in an attempted murder trial.
Okeowo, a chief, was to testify against Sikiru Odusanya, a 55-year-old technician charged with a two-count offence of attempted murder.
When the case was called for trial, the state prosecutor, Mr Adebayo Haroun, stood up and was frantically screening those in the public gallery in the courtroom in search of the witness.
“My Lord, I saw the witness some moments ago and he assured me that he was going to testify against the defendant.
“I, however, noticed that he went outside and was in a heated discussion with some members of the defendant’s family.
“We have been facing this same scenario in this case; anytime we called witnesses, they promised to come but they failed to show up and the one that came to court today has disappeared.” Haroun said.
The family members of Odusanya (the defendant), who were also in court earlier also “vanished”.
Counsel to Odusanya, Mr Olumuyiwa Ogunsanmi, confirmed that the defendant’s family were in court.
“I saw members of the defendant’s family from Ikorodu, I asked why they came today because they have not been coming to court for the previous proceedings.
“They told me they were here to show solidarity for their brother — the defendant.”
A visibly disturbed judge, Justice Sedotan Ogunsanya, asked the lawyer: “Do you mean that a defendant came all the way from Ikorodu to Ikeja and disappeared, vanished into thin air?”
He then immediately issued a witness summons for the traditional Chief.
“A witness summons is to be issued for Chief Taiwo Omeowo of No. 11, Iti-Onire St., Ishire, Ikorodu, Lagos.”
According to the prosecution, Odusanya had attempted to murder two men — Taiwo Ayodele and Ganiyu Rabiu — about 3.30 p.m. on April 22, 2014 at Iyin Egbe Village, Imota, near Ikorodu.
“The accused shot the two men with a gun, the shooting occurred during a fight over land dispute.”
The offences contravened Section 228 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
The case has been adjourned to March 27 for continuation of trial.