An Abuja based lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, has described saving a teenager, Adeolu Bamiteko, who was sentenced to death by a High Court for armed robbery as his landmark case.

Ajulo said, “This is the first time a condemned criminal will be left off the hook.”

Giving an insight into the case, in his response to THISDAY enquiry, Ajulo explained that Bamiteko and one Ayobami Ojo were arraigned in Charge No. HAD/15C/2014 before the High Court presided over by Justice J.O Adeyeye on three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

The Human rights activist said on June 30, 2017 Bamiteko was sentenced to death by the trial court.

Against this background, Ajulo said he decided to take up the case on compassionate grounds when his attention was drawn to it through a Facebook post by a friend of his.

He said it was based on this that he filed a Notice of Appeal No. CA/EK/41C/2020 at the Court of Appeal sitting in Ado Ekiti on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case against Bamiteko beyond reasonable doubt.

Ajulo added that during his investigation and while going through the evidence presented by the prosecution counsel, he realised that there were discrepancies in the evidence presented before the court.

The activist pointed out that the prosecution also failed to call the alleged victim as a witness in the case and the purported confessional statements of the accused persons which were admitted in evidence were recorded in Yoruba Language and translated into English Language.

He explained further that the Youruba version of the statement was not tendered before the court.

Ajulo said there was no admissible or reliable evidence as to where, when and how Exhibit C (the bag allegedly belonging to the accused which contained locally made pistol, a knife, four mobile phones, a wrist-watch, a necklace and fifty naira note) was allegedly recovered from the accused.

Subsequently, he said that the Court of Appeal sitting in Ado Ekiti Judicial Division recently discharged and acquitted Bamiteko, following his intervention.

The panel of Justices, Justice Ibrahim Ali Andenyangtso; Justice Bilikisu Bello Aliyu and led by Hon. Justice Theresa Ngolika Oriji Abadua, in a unanimous judgment set aside the judgment of the trial court in its entirety and thereafter discharged and acquitted Adeolu of the offences for which he was charged.

Ajulo stated: “This is the first time in my professional life that a minor will be let off the hook just by the grace of God through legal intervention. It is quite very rare.

“I remember one day I was talking to him and you know what this boy told me, he said anytime your name is called it is either for food or you will not come back, because nobody calls condemned criminals. And when you call condemned criminals two things happen. The possibility of returning back after answering that call is 50-50.

“I see it as a civic duty to humanity. It is a huge victory for us. It is a good victory for humanity. Today you see Boko Haram killing people. But here is an opportunity to save a soul. This is huge,” Ajulo added.
Source: This Day