Really? Thank God for the intelligent judge, who
said the public have already been informed and the
press have the right to keep them informed. The
story by Punch;
The courtroom of a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting
in Ikeja was filled to capacity on Monday as a
University of Lagos lecturer, Dr. Afeez Baruwa,
who is standing trial for allegedly raping an 18-year-
old admission seeker, showed up in court for trial.
This was just as the counsel for the defendant,
Kunle Abimbola, lamented the negative press
coverage given to his client’s case, adding that such
publications already presumed the defendant to be
guilty.
Punch Metro had reported on September 10 that
Baruwa, a lecturer from the univeristy’s Distance
Learning Institute, who had been in remand at the
Krikiri Prison since August 7, failed to show up in
court.
The presiding magistrate, Mr. T. Elias, had
adjourned the case till Monday, September 21, 2015,
for the outcome of the DPP’s advice.
However, Baruwa showed up in court for the
continuation of his trial on Monday.
Our correspondent also observed the victim and
her parents sitting among the crowd.
The defence counsel, Abimbola, who brought an
affidavit sworn to by Baruwa’s wife to show the
lecturer’s failing health, sought the court’s
permission to perfect the bail of Baruwa.
The counsel, who put forward several newspaper
publications on Baruwa, said it was wrong that his
client was being tried by the media in the eyes of
the general public.
He said, “The state of my client’s health should be
considered. We also have to seek a protection of
the man from the press. It is not fair that the
defendant is being tried by the media.
“This is contrary to Section 36 (5), of the
constitution. There are several publications that
attest to this, including an interview granted to the
Dean of the UNILAG’s Faculty of Business
Administration, where my client was called all sort
of names.
“I urge the court to call the newspapers to order,
and we urge you to come to the aid of the
defendant.”.
The OPD lawyer, Ibikunle, said the publication of
the matter in the newspaper was not
unconstitutional as the general public had already
been informed, and had the right to have
information on the matter as it progressed.
She added that the affidavit brought before the
court establishing Baruwa’s ill-health, did not have
any medical report.
The Magistrate, Elias, who went through one of the
newspapers’ publication briefly, said the case was
awaiting advice from the Department of Public
Prosecutions.
He thereafter adjourned the matter till November
13, 2015.
