Our reporter
The prosecution in the case concerning the alleged aiding of suicide by Mrs. Lilian Omokhuale, daughter of Omoruyi Oloton, CEO of Uyi Technical Limited, is pushing for the involvement of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to enforce a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Benin City.
The case, which is filed under reference number FHC/B/5C/2024, involves the Inspector General of Police and six accused individuals, including Jessica Iguodala Oghomwen. The bench warrant was issued after Oghomwen and another defendant, Chukwudi Mudiaga, failed to appear in court during a previous hearing in November 2024.
At the latest court session on Tuesday, Prosecutor P. O. Odion informed the court that Jessica Oghomwen had intentionally refused to attend the proceedings, thereby disregarding the court’s authority despite being fully aware of the charges against her. Odion stressed that due to Oghomwen’s repeated absences, it was now necessary to enlist INTERPOL’s help to ensure her arrest.
The case took another turn when Oghomwen’s former legal representative, O. I. Asenoguan, who had initially been responsible for her bail, distanced himself from the case, transferring it to a new counsel. Asenoguan had previously apologised for Oghomwen’s absence at a prior hearing, citing her ill-health and her stay in Germany.
In response, the newly appointed lawyer, Dele Igbinedion, questioned the validity of Oghomwen’s claimed illness and absence, suggesting no effort had been made to verify her status. Igbinedion went further to request that the case be dismissed, arguing that it was more of a civil matter than a criminal one and that no conclusive evidence connected his client to the death of Mrs. Omokhuale.
With no objections from the prosecution or other defence counsel, the court granted Igbinedion’s request for an adjournment to allow time for the amended charge sheet to be reviewed. The prosecution, in turn, withdrew the original charge sheet filed in January 2024, replacing it with a revised version issued in July 2024.
The amended charge sheet, which now only includes four defendants—Jessica Iguodala Oghomwen, Vincent Uhunmwangho, Blessing Jatto, and Chukwudi Mudiaga—removes Akpes Omorodion and Joy Noren from the case entirely.
The court has adjourned the matter to 25 March 2025, for further hearing and to address any preliminary objections raised by the defence.
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