The lead counsel for Abdulazeez Adegbola, also known as Tani Olorun, who is currently facing criminal defamation and other charges in Ilorin, Mr. A.G. Ademola Bank, has stated that the legal team is open to the possibility of an out-of-court settlement for the matter.
Tani Olorun is facing trial on five counts, including criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, disturbance of public peace, criminal defamation of character, and intentional insult, in a Kwara Chief Magistrate Court in Ilorin. He is also facing similar charges alongside Chief Ademola Olawoore, the Oluwo Nla of Tede, in the Kwara Upper Area Court in Ilorin.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. While Oluwo Nla was granted bail by the Upper Area Court last Wednesday, the Magistrate Court deferred the ruling on Tani Olorun’s bail until Monday, September 25, 2023.
Speaking in an interview, Bank explained that a former counsel, Mr. Mufutau Olobi, who initially represented Tani Olorun when he was first arraigned, is no longer involved in the case.
He said, “On August 17, 2023, when the case started, I was in the Magistrate Court and Barrister Olobi too was in Court, both of us announced our appearance.
“But in the last three sittings of the courts, he has not been showing up. That means he has withdrawn his appearance, why, I don’t know. There are many interest groups involved in the case of the defendant, therefore, he may be representing a particular interest group and for one reason or the other, he has not been coming to court, I don’t know whether he might have been debriefed.”
Bank also noted that Tani Olorun was facing a double trial for the same offence within the same court jurisdiction saying the court denied his client his fundamental Human rights.
Answering a question on whether the defense counsel would agree on an out-of-court settlement, Bank said that a case could be discontinued at any time and that such an agreement could be mooted by the parties involved.
“If such agreement for out-of-court settlement comes up, why won’t we agree; the court allows it. The law allows it and wisdom allows it. The law does not frown at it, the Court does not frown at it and Wisdom does not frown at it. Parties can agree to an out-of-court settlement at any time. if it comes, so be it if the situation allows it.”
He was however silent on whether the agreement for out-of-court settlement would come from the defendant saying, “It is the situation that dictates it”.
