A renowned lawyer and a former Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Olasupo Sashore, SAN was at his best yesterday during the sensational trial of Danish citizen, Mr. Peter Nielsen.
Shashore, is the leads the defence team in the case before Justice Okikiolu-Ighile sitting at the High Court of Lagos State, Igbosere.
Recall that Nielson was accused of killing his rising pop star wife and daughter sometime around 2018.
In his erudite submission before the court, Sashore urged the police authorities to conduct a thorough investigations into the matter stressing that his client was not culpable.
The trial which has attracted global attention was led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey.
Sashore argued that the case is yet another litmus test to prove to the watching world that Nigerian judicial system is strong and operates within global best practices.
The former Attorney General of Lagos State specifically challenged the two police witnesses about diligent investigation.
In show of solidarity for their national, the Danish Ambassador and embassy staff with danish television crew who had always been in court since the hearing of the case were in attendance yesterday.
The prosecution called Inspector Babashola Afolayan of Ikoyi division and Prosecution called its eighth (8th) witness, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Gafar Oderinde.
Even though the state contended that the police conducted a thorough investigation the danish national lawyer Shasore SAN in cross examination was able to bring to the court’s notice the fact that the seasoned Inspector had not – reviewed the CCTV footage from the apartment building; checked the telephones of occupants of the apartment; inspected all the rooms in the apartment or even spoken with the neighbours around the apartment before he came to a conclusion that the defendant was the only suspect.
Shasore who is a listed defence counsel with the International Criminal Court at The Hague Netherlands, and of ALP Legal the law firm chosen by the Danish, stated that the role of the police is vital and if the police themselves do not conduct their investigation diligently then there could be a miscarriage of justice.
In fact, Mr. Shasore SAN asked the investigator if he agreed that this case depends on investigation and a good investigation will lead to justice and a bad investigation would lead to injustice in this case, the Inspector answered in the affirmative.
ASP Gafar is a police officer attached to the Homicide Department of the State CIID Yaba, who took over the investigation of the case from the police officers at Ikoyi Police Station.
ASP Oderinde gave evidence-in-chief narrating his investigation which commenced on 6 February 2019.
He stated that his decision to arraign the Defendant was based on his findings in the course of his investigation including: that the Defendant was the only adult male in the apartment; there was no evidence of any break-in; the nanny who could have gained access into the apartment through the kitchen door could not do so because the door was locked from behind; and the wound on the Defendant’s finger could not be attributed to a fall as the Defendant alleges.
The Court adjourned the case till 25 March for continuation of trial.
