First to fourth defendants Duba Furejo, Ododowo Isaiah, Reuben Anthony and Yerin Fresh were arraigned for the alleged offence before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo on October 24.
They are standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, armed robbery, felony and kidnapping preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
At the commencement of proceedings Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Adeniji Kazeem (SAN), who led a team of counsel for the state, obtained leave of court to exclude the public from the trial.
In an oral application, Kazeem alleged that the defendants were likely part of a criminal enterprise and that it would serve the interest of justice as well as the safety of the witnesses for the matter to be closed to the public.
The court granted his request despite the objections of Chief Selowei Baidi for the first and second defendants, Mr J. O. Egwuaroje for the third defendant and fourth defendant counsel, Anthony Onwueze
Justice Taiwo ruled there was nothing prejudicial about the application and assured the defence of a fair hearing. She ordered all journalists in court to identify themselves by their official Identification cards in order to be allowed to cover the proceedings.
Led in examination by Kazeem, Oseni, 73, testified as the first prosecution witness and narrated how at about 8pm on July 16, he was kidnapped while watching TV in a room at the palace and held in captivity for three weeks in an unknown riverine camp.
He described his abductors – about nine in number – as shirtless, heavily armed men wearing only black trousers and said they accosted him as he went to investigate a noise from his sitting room.
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