The Women Arise for Change Initiative on Monday staged a protest at the premises of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan demanding justice for a murder victim, Mr Lowo Oyediran.
The wife of the deceased, Yewande, is standing trial for the murder of her husband.
Yewande, a lawyer and staff of the Directorate of the Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Oyo State of Ministry of Justice, allegedly stabbed her husband with a knife leading to his death.
Addressing journalists, the President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, said that the group was committed to ensuring justice for both men and women.
“We feel this case throws up a disturbing portrayal of the female gender and therefore we want to call for justice.
“Murder is a grievous crime and is punishable by law and therefore the law must take its course in this case.
“ We applaud the matter is now in court and we have begun to monitor it,’’ Okei-Odunmakin said.
Okei-Odumakin said that there were insinuations that justice could be hindered due to the profession of the defendant as a lawyer.
She said that the group hoped that this insinuation would not be true, calling on well meaning lawyers to only take sides with objectivity and justice.
“ I believe every lawyer should rather be on the good side of history by supporting justice because any outcome to the contrary of justice would be very dangerous to humanity and highly indicting of the society.
“ We speak strongly against domestic violence and urged everyone to desist from it.
“We demand proper investigation in this case and ask that justice be done to make an example of deterrence,’’ she said.
At resumption of the case, Mr Tajudeen Abdulganiyu, the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), informed the court that he had filed a reply to the preliminary objection of the defence.
The preliminary objection challenged the competence of the charge levelled against the defendant.
The defence counsel, Mr Seun Abimbola, however, told the court that he needed time to respond to the written address on the preliminary objection served on him by the prosecution counsel and sought for an adjournment.
Justice Muktar Abimbola adjourned the case till May 27 for hearing.
