The defense team, led by Leye Adepoju, had informed the court when they case was called, that they would be seeking an adjournment dues to some reasons which are germane to the defense of the matter. “My Lord, the matter was slated for defense in view of the fact that the prosecution has closed its case. Regrettably, we must seek your Lordship’s indulgence to have an adjournment. This is because our application to have a certified true copy of the record of proceeding was granted but we just got it on Friday, February 10, 2017. “Aside this, we have filed an application to subpoena some witnesses that needs to be subpoenaed and the result is not out and subpoena have not been served on witnesses, we have to do this because we don’t have the coercive powers of the state. I must confess that we filed our application for subpoena late because we need to get our facts together. “I also wish to make it known, because we don’t intend to railroad anybody that, we will be filing notice that the prosecution produce some pictures that they didn’t tender. On these grounds, we will be craving the indulgence of the court for an adjournment,” Adepoju stated. In his reply, the prosecution led by the Private Prosecutor, Sanyaolu S. Akinyele, raised an objection to the application of the defense for adjournment on the grounds that the reasons they gave were not strong enough. Akinyele stated that the defense had already confessed that they filed late. “I will be objecting because of the reasons they gave and they also confessed that they filed the subpoena application late. The last hearing in this matter was on January 5, over a month ago and since then; the prosecution has not received any motion on notice or letter compelling it to produce any document. “What is germane is the certified true copy which they already have since Friday, they have other witnesses, and they should call those while waiting to subpoena others. This is a criminal matter and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act stipulates that trial should be speedy. The court should adjourn and give an order that they should file notice to produce whatever they want within seven days because they are yet to tell the court the history of their defense,” Akinyele concluded. Adepoju in reply informed the court that the defense will not be calling less than six witnesses, all of whom will have to be subpoenaed. Justice Abimbola in his ruling refused and overruled the objection of the prosecution on the ground that whatever reasons given for applying for an adjournment be it good, bad or no reason at all must be considered from the angle of justice which is for all. He held that justice is the important factor; justice for the society, the victim and the defendant, adding that it is the case of the defense and they are the ones that know how they want to present it and should therefore not be restrained so that justice will be seen as served by all parties. The case was adjourned till March 21 and 22, 2017 for the defense to open its case. The prosecution had closed its case after calling nine witnesses which includes the landlord of the couple and his wife, the investigating Police Officer, a neighbor, a pathologist, a medical doctor, police officers from Akobo police station that first handled the matter and a photographer.]]>