Lawyers Strike In Ondo Stalls Hearing Of Murder Case Of Pa Fasoranti's Daughter

 The strike embarked upon by lawyers at the Ondo State Ministry of Justice has stalled the ongoing trail of suspects over the murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Rueben Fasoranti. 

Olakunrin was murdered on July 12, 2019 along Ore-Sagamu Road by some suspected herdsmen while returning to Lagos. 

The police had arrested four suspects, who were identified as Muhammed Shehu Usman, Mazaje Lawal, Adamu Adamu, and Awalu Abubakar over the killing and subsequently charged them to court. 

During a visit to the state's High Court in Akure, the capital, many persons expressed disappointment at the stalling of their cases as a result of the lawyers strike.

Aside from Olakunrin's case, other highprofile cases were also put on hold due to the ongoing strike by the government lawyers. 

A judicial officer, who identified himself as Abiodun, said the strike action of the lawyers was already taking its toll on the activities at the court. 

He said, "We have no less than six cases here today but hearing could not hold due to the strike action of the lawyers. 

"They have to return the inmates to prison custody since the lawyers' are not around to defend or attend to their cases. 

"So, the strike is affecting the judiciary system of the state and as you can observe to that everywhere is already paralyzed due to the action." 

One of the striking lawyers, who spoke with SaharaReporters under the condition of anonymity, said the strike continues until the government addressed them. 

He explained that the state government was not willing to accede to their agitations, stressing that some lawyers had been threatened with sack if they failed to return to work. 

"Instead of calling us for negotiations by looking into our plight, the government is busy abusing and insulting us for embarking on strike as if we don't have the right to do so," he said.

However, speaking on a television program, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu described the strike embarked upon by the lawyers as unfounded and unnecessary. 

He added that he had also instructed the Head of Service in the state to look into the demands of the striking lawyers with a view to resolving the issue.