Prince Ademola Dada

By Akin Kuponiyi

A Lagos High Court today  discharged and acquitted  the immediate past Chairman of Island Club and Lagos socialite,  Prince Ademola Dada of perjury.

Justice Christopher Balogun held that the prosecution failed woefully to prove it’s case beyond all reasonable doubt.

He also held that the testimony of prosecution witnesses were weak,  contradictory and not credible.

Justice Balogun held that the attendance register of Isoyin Grammar School, Isoyin  in Ogun State relied upon by the prosecution was never tendered in court.

Dada was arraigned before the  Court, in 2011 for allegedly making false declaration on oath. The trial  lasted for almost five years.

The State called six witnesses while Barrister Abiodun Owonikoko SAN leading six other lawyers for the  defence called two witnesses.

One of them,  the secretary of Isoyin Grammar School old students association Henry Odubela  told the court that he was instigated by a member of the Island Club to write a petition against Prince Ademola Dada which  led to this criminal prosecution.

The second witness was Prince Olusegun Dada,the senior brother of the defendant.

Dada pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him. State prosecutor, had told the court that the defendant on November 15, 2006, at the High Court premises in Lagos before a commissioner for oaths,  knowingly and falsely deposed to an affidavit headed: “Affidavit of Confirmation of Attendance,”

He argued that the alleged offence is contrary to Section 192 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C. 17 Vol. 2 Laws of Lagos State 2003.

In the said affidavit, Prince Dada was alleged to have stated on oath that he got admitted into Isoyin Grammar School, Isoyin, Ijebu in Ogun State and that one Mr. Odeleye and Mr. Oyenuga were the Principal and Vice Principal, respectively.

He was also alleged to have stated on oath that as at the time of his admission into Isoyin Grammar School, he was bearing the name Stephen Dada and that he only spent one term in the school due to lack of financial support.

The author, Akin Kuponiyi can be reached   at: [email protected]