Court Adjourns Hammed Tajudeen’s Case To June 30 Over Ill Health

The Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba has adjourned the case involving Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi to June 30, 2026, following reports of the defendant's deteriorating health condition.

The case, presided over by Magistrate L. A. Owolabi, came up on Monday for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

At the proceedings, counsel from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), A. Munir, informed the court that the DPP had issued legal advice on the matter.

However, counsel to the defendant, Adedotun Ajulo, said he was unaware of the said legal advice. He also informed the court that the defendant was absent because he was receiving medical treatment at the Police Medical Clinic, Area F, Ikeja, where he was being held under medical care due to ill health.

In a dramatic turn of events, the police prosecutor, A.O. Nwabuisi, confirmed that the defendant was indeed at the medical facility but expressed his intention to have him produced before the court despite his health challenges.

Nwabuisi subsequently requested the court to stand the matter down to enable him bring the defendant to court. The request was strongly opposed by Ajulo, who argued that the defendant’s health should be accorded priority.

Ajulo further submitted that justice must serve the interests of the state, the defendant and the public, stressing that the Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers prohibit prosecutors from engaging in conduct that could amount to persecution of an accused person.

Following the prosecutor’s insistence, the court stood the matter down for one hour to allow efforts to produce the defendant.

When proceedings resumed, the prosecutor was unable to present the defendant before the court. Instead, he tendered a medical report indicating that the defendant was critically ill and under medical observation.

In his ruling, Magistrate Owolabi held that the medical report constituted sufficient evidence that the defendant was seriously ill and currently on admission.

Consequently, the court adjourned the matter until June 30, 2026, for the defendant’s possible appearance, subject to his medical fitness.

The court further directed that if the defendant remains medically unfit to attend proceedings on the adjourned date, the Chief Medical Officer of the Police Medical Clinic, Ikeja, or another designated officer from the facility, must appear before the court to provide an update on his health status.