By KosofePost
The legal dispute between the Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Barrister Moyosore Ogunlewe, and his former Special Adviser on Boundary Matters, Ganiyu Olamiji Oyebanjo, popularly known as GOCO, is set to enter a new phase as the Igbosere Magistrate Court has fixed August 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The case, which has generated significant interest within the Kosofe political landscape, centres on criminal charges brought against Oyebanjo by the Police. The same court had earlier ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre following his initial arraignment.
At the resumed proceedings, the prosecution accused the former council aide of conspiracy, unlawful burglary, and the unauthorised removal of classified documents from the office of the Executive Chairman.
According to the allegations, Oyebanjo conspired with a former personal assistant to remove official local government documents and intended to use them as leverage against the administration. However, Oyebanjo has denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The road to the scheduled trial has been highly contentious. Oyebanjo was arrested at his residence by officers of the Zone II Police Command following an official complaint concerning an alleged theft incident said to have occurred in mid-2024.
After his arraignment at the Igbosere Magistrate Court, the court ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, where he spent 13 days in custody before meeting the bail conditions set by the court.
Both parties have continued to maintain sharply contrasting accounts of the events leading to the case.
Chairman Ogunlewe insists that the matter is strictly a criminal case involving the alleged theft of government property and should not be interpreted as an attempt to silence a whistleblower. He has maintained that the case is about accountability and adherence to the law, publicly accusing his former aide of attempting to use the documents for extortion.
On the other hand, Oyebanjo and his supporters contend that his arrest and detention were politically motivated and designed to punish him for raising concerns over alleged misconduct in the local government. He insists that the documents in question, which he reportedly used in petitions submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over alleged financial misappropriation, were obtained lawfully in the course of performing his official duties.
The August 7 trial date is expected to attract considerable attention from community leaders, political observers, and residents across Kosofe Local Government Area, given the prominence of the parties involved and the broader implications of the case.
It was also reliably gathered that two other cases relating to the issues in dispute are currently pending before the High Court of Lagos State.