Judiciary
JUSTICE Samira Bature of a Federal Capital Territory(FCT) high court, on Monday granted the last adjournment to a property developer, Cecil Osakwe, to appear for his arraignment
Orakwe and others were to be arraigned for alleged illegal eviction.
At the resumed sitting in the suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/22/2023 only a lawyer, Victor Giwa and the third suspect were present.
The Prosecution Counsel, M. O. Una, said:”Osakwe has again and for the fifth time failed to appear before the court for his arraignment.
”I am surprised that he is not in court. This matter suffered a similar fate at the last sitting”.
He therefore asked the court to invoke its powers to compel Osakwe’s appearance.
Una reminded the court that the matter began in 2023 .
In his argument counsel to Osakwe, Chibunna Odiniru, said he filed two applications before the court for consideration.
He added that, while one has to do with jurisdiction the other is seeking leave of the court for adjournment .
He said his client was in a hospital abroad on admission and he has a doctor’s report to present in court.
”My client is in a hospital in the U.S. with a life-threatening medical condition.
”He is not intentionally staying away from the proceedings of the court as no individual will deliberately wish sickness upon himself,” he said.
Presenting the medical report before the court, Odiniru said his client will require eight weeks of intensive medical care to enable him be fit for the trial .
Objecting, the prosecution counsel, reminded the court that this was not the first time, Osakwe would be asking for adjournment on the evidence of a medical report.
Justice Bature adjourned the matter until March 17 for arraignment
” The court have taken judicial notice of the serial adjournments. We are constrained again to adjourn the matter.
” If he fails to appear, wewill have no option but to concede to the demand of the prosecution counsel to issue a warrant of arrest on him( Osakwe ).
” A month is enough for him and the counsel to get their house in order and be ready for arraignment, ” she held.
The suspects were to be charged with nine counts of unlawful eviction and criminal intimidation and threat to life and damage to property to the tune of N300 million. (NAN)
A.I
Feb. 17, 2025
Tags: Chibunna Odiniru Justice Samira Bature M. O. Una Victor Giwa
