Trial proceedings against three suspects accused of murdering a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer, Funmilayo Lasisi, and her daughter, Adesewa, were stalled on Monday at the Osun State High Court in Osogbo after none of the defendants had legal representation.
Justice Yinka Aderibigbe adjourned the case until December 8, 2026, for the defendants to enter their pleas and for a possible commencement of the trial.
The defendants, Fajemirokun Victor, Gboyega Daramola and Sunday James, were brought before the court by officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, the proceedings could not formally begin because no defence lawyer appeared on their behalf.
An Assistant Director at the Osun State Ministry of Justice, Muyiwa Ogunleye, announced his appearance for the prosecution.
Ogunleye also informed the court that the prosecution had yet to serve the defendants with copies of the court processes required for the arraignment.
He assured the judge that the documents would be served before the next hearing.
Justice Aderibigbe subsequently directed that the defendants must have legal representation when they return to court.
She also urged journalists covering the proceedings to report the case fairly and diligently to prevent misinformation.
Speaking with journalists after the sitting, Ogunleye explained that the absence of defence counsel prevented the court from proceeding with the arraignment.
According to him, the defendants must be represented by lawyers because of the capital nature of the offences they are facing.
He said attempts to serve the defendants with the court documents at the correctional facility on Monday were unsuccessful after officials requested that the documents be brought to the Ilesa Correctional Centre.
Ogunleye disclosed that a colleague had been assigned to ensure the service of the documents, alongside the hearing notice, on the defendants on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
He added that the prosecution had lined up eight witnesses for the trial, comprising four police officers and four civilian witnesses.
“We will ensure we bring our witnesses on that day and open our case,” he said, expressing confidence that the prosecution would be able to assemble a substantial number of its witnesses at the next sitting.
How the suspects were remanded
The three defendants had earlier appeared before an Osun State Magistrates’ Court in Osogbo over their alleged involvement in the killing of Lasisi, an FRSC officer attached to the Ogun State Command, and her daughter, Adesewa.
They were remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre following their arraignment before Magistrate O. A. Daramola on Friday, January 16, 2026, in suit number MOS/M-53/2026.
The suspects were identified as Gboyega Daramola, 39; Sunday James, 38; and Fajemirokun Victor, 36.
They were brought before the magistrate by the Osun State Commissioner of Police, who sought an order for their remand pending legal advice from the Ministry of Justice.
In an affidavit supporting the application, the investigating police officer, Inspector Babawale Taiwo, urged the court to remand the suspects pending advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The magistrate subsequently ordered their remand at the correctional facility until February 6, 2026.
The case has since proceeded to the High Court, where the defendants are expected to enter their pleas when they return on December 8.
