Mr Joseph Akinlaja.
Joseph Lebo
A former member of House of Representatives, Mr Joseph Akinlaja, has condemned the process of taking over a criminal case pending before a Chief Magistrate Court by the office of the Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
Mr Akinlaja sued five persons namely, Stella Akinbobola, Akanji Ganiyu Olayinka, Adetoye Okunade Francis, Olajide Festus Ajayi and Olusegun Akinbobola, for defamation of character, forgery and felony for trespassing on his land.
The suspects were accused of obtaining falsely forged documents and claiming ownership of a large expanse of land used for farming by the plaintiff.
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Akinlaja had lodged a criminal charge with the Nigeria Police Force, Ondo state command against five persons for alleged defamation of character, forgery and felony.
The former lawmaker had in a case filed before Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus of the Magistrates Court, Akure, alleged that the suspects gave false information to the police prompting law enforcement agents to invade his farmland and harass workers at the farm located at Igba, Ondo kingdom.
‘Several gun shots were fired sporadically by the police officers because of the false information given to them by the suspects alleging that Hon Akinlaja has a cache of arms guns and engages in kidnapping’, our reporter gathered.
The suspects including Stella Akinbobola, Akanji Ganiyu Olayinka, Adetoye Okunade Francis, Olajide Festus Ajayi and Olusegun Akinbobola were arraigned over six count charge before Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus.
The former federal lawmaker said the movement of the case from the magistrate court was a means to subvert justice.
