Auxiliary: Is This A Ride?
When news broke on Thursday that the former Chairman of the Park Management System, PMS, Mukaila Auxiliary was to be arraigned, I was anxious to see what the charges against him would be before making up my mind on the level of seriousness of those who are behind his predicaments and how far they are willing to go.
If reports in the Media are anything to go by, then I will say I am not disappointed.
Auxiliary has been charged before a Chief Magistrate court on a four count charge bothering on allegations of Murder of Rahmon Azeez, conspiracy and stealing of some phones worth some millions of Naira.
The Chief Magistrate, according to reports, expectedly declined jurisdiction and adjourned the matter to July 11 for mention pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP.
The matter is already before the court and their is a limit to which it could be discussed.
However, the Law does not forbids discussions touching on the surface of the matter as it were and I will open from the choice of the court where Auxiliary was arraigned.
For a fugitive who was declared wanted since about a couple of months and who have been in custody of the security Agencies for days to be taken before a Magistrate court to be tried on allegations involving murder smacks of suspicion.
Even, a student of Law in his first year in the University knows that only the High court have the jurisdiction to hear Murder cases.
The question is, why would Auxiliary be taken before a Magistrate court that lacks the jurisdiction to hear and determine a charge of Murder?
Was that a mistake on the part of the police or was it deliberate?
Procedurally, you might not be able to fault the process but when you look at the circumstances surrounding the case of Auxiliary, you will get what I’m saying.
The murder of Rahmon occured about three years ago.
Auxiliary was arraigned on Thursday, 16th May, 2024 on a four count charge that centres around the murder three years later.
Now, one would wonder, at which point was Auxiliary regarded as a culprit in the matter?
Three years ago? By who?
What is the time frame between the time the crime was committed and the time the police declared Auxiliary wanted?
Was there a time Auxiliary was arrested and questioned about the murder of Rahmon?
If there was such a time, why would the matter linger for about three years?
If not, why not? At which point did investigation of Auxiliary in connection with the incident in Iwo Road started?
The coincidence between the interviews of Auxiliary and the sudden action of Government and the police smells fishy.
You will think that a crime which occured in three years and one which the principal accused person was available ought to have been properly investigated and concluded in a way that the culprit will just be taken to the appropriate court for trial right away.
Now, the case file has been sent to the DPP!
Guess who heads the DPP?
The Oyo state Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice is the head of the Oyo DPP.
Like I said, the matter is before the court, but the public must know that the mere facts that an accused is charged for Murder is not enough reasons to be jubilant that the needful has been done .
There are crucial ingredients that the prosecution must place before the court to be entitled to conviction.
I have my fears which I must keep to myself here for now.
Those who took Auxillary to the Magistrate court have a lot to explain.
The issues around Mukaila are a matter of public interest.
His interviews before his arrest are highly revealing.
His matter is too grave, so serious to be decided on a single murder charge.
This is a guy who have been heard to have admitted to being involved in skirmishes in Igangan during the campaign of Governor Seyi Makinde for a second term.
The police must tell the public Its findings on the sad events in Igangan.
Was it investigated?
What were the findings?
Was the incident in Eruwa in 2021 investigated and if yes, what were the findings?
Auxiliary have made public statements regarding his roles and relationship with Governor Makinde and his right hand man, Seye Famojuro.
This is a matter of public interest and thankfully, the police have concluded their investigations.
To me, whatever that have been done is not wholistic enough.
The charges before the court presently are not enough to cover for Auxiliary’s misdeeds.
The scenarios around the initial statement by the police who declared Auxiliary wanted only for the public to later see a fugitive granting press interviews in his residence at Olodo before been arrested by the DSS smacks of serious suspicion.
I hope Governor Seyi Makinde, through his Attorney general will salvage the situation by directing a thorough and wholistic investigations of all allegations of murder against Auxiliary if they want to be taken seriously.
This ” ogbon ka fi eran senu..” will do the Governor’s image any good.
Auxiliary have not been charged for armed robbery.
That is a far more dangerous charge than stealing.
What was he doing with the ammunitions recovered from him?
How did he come about the firearms?
Are those the firearms used in Igangan and Eruwa?
Who was he working for both in Eruwa and Igangan.
He has been charged for the mob action which occured in Iwo Road.
Very impressive.
Why would he escape the politically associated violence in Igangan and Eruwa?
Who is afraid of opening the can of worms in the two Ibarapa towns?
” Bi a ba fa gburu, gburu a fa Igbo”. Is that it?
Whatever is good for Auxiliary must be good for his accomplices and sponsors if such a situation is established.
It is not only criminals that must be uprooted from our societies.
The sponsors of violence must also be uprooted.
Both Governor Makinde, as Chief security officer of the state and the security Agencies will be put to task on this crucial matter.
The citizens of Oyo state demand a thorough and wholistic trial of Auxiliary.
No more. No less.
The public must follow this matter with keen interests.
This is not a matter that should be decided through the back door.
The police must also know that the public will scrutinize all Its actions on this matter.
We will refuse all attempts to take the citizens of Oyo state for a ride.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
