By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

A furniture maker, Oluwaseun Oladapo, 24, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja for alleged murder of human rights lawyer, Kunle Fadipe, who was stabbed several times in different parts of his body.

It would be recalled that the arraignment of the defendant before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye was stalled at the last proceeding, following non-representation by a lawyer, which compelled the judge to hold that he could not be arraigned in the absence of his lawyer because of the weight of the charge against him.

The defendant, who lives at 24, Osho Street, Abeokuta area of Ogun State, was accused of robbing Fadipe of a large sum of money, while armed with an offensive weapon to wit, a knife, and assaulted one Abiola Owolabi by stabbing her with a knife.

He was arraigned by the state on a five-count charge of murder, armed robbery and assault occasioning harm.

“Oluwaseun Oladapo on July 4, 2014 at about 3a.m., at No. 1 Harmony Estate, Ifako Ijaye, Iju Lagos, in the Ikeja Judicial Division, murdered one Kunle Fadipe by stabbing him several times on numerous parts of his body,” the charge read.

Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Idowu Alakija, informed the court that the offence was contrary to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, when the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.

Subsequently, Alakija told the court that the prosecution was ready to open trial.

Counsel to the defendant, Mr Worer Obuagbaka, urged the court to stand down the matter for an hour as he just received service on the proof of evidence and needed to study it.

Justice Ipaye held that in the interest of justice, more time should be given to the defence counsel to study the proof of evidence.

The matter was adjourned to August 17 and 18 for trial.