Justice T.B Adegoke of the Federal High Court, Akure, Ondo State has ordered that the trial of the Alararomi of Araromi Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Babalola Adebomi be moved to the Ado-Ekiti division of the court in Ekiti State.
The transfer of the Traditional Ruler trial over alleged certificate forgery is at the instance of the defendant.
Justice Adegoke issued the order while delivering a ruling in the application by the defence counsel, Olumide Ogidan seeking the transfer of the case because the Ado-Ekiti division is the proper place for the trial.
He said taking the case to Ado-Ekiti would enhance administrative efficiency as well as accessibility to witnesses.
Oba Babalola was arraigned last year on two charges, bordering on the alleged forgery of the University of Ibadan certificate and presenting same to the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti for a job in 2008 and also alleged forgery of the Discharge Certificate of National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) and presenting same to the University Teaching Hospital for job.
The charge sheet No: FHC/AK/16/2024 reads inter alia: “That you Babalola Babatunde on or about the 15th day of January 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did make and uttered a forged University of Ibadan Result which you knew to be false and with the intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
“That you Batalola Babatunde on or about the 15 day of January, 2008 at the University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make and uttered a forged National Youth Service Corps Certificate which you knew to be false and with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti to offer you a job and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act”.
However, as the trial was about to commence, counsel to the defendant, Olumide Ogidan brought an application for transfer of the case to the Ekiti State division of the Federal High Court, saying the matter happened in Ekiti State.
In response, the prosecution counsel, I. Osobu disagreed, saying the defendant just wanted to stall the trial of the case.
Osobu urged the court to refuse the application for the transfer of the case, as demanded by the defendant.
The Judge held: ” I read through the application of the defendant and the counter affidavit, I also read through the legal issue raised in the application.
” It is obvious that the cause of action that culminated in the case arose in Ado-Ekiti and it is the best place for the trial.
“I hereby heavily hold that case be transferred to the Ado-Ekiti division of the court as the court has a territorial jurisdiction to trial the matter and for administrative convenience “
