 |
CRIMINAL ENTICEMENT:
COURT ADJOURNS CASE TO JANUARY 2018
By Ayuba Jacob
12th
December, 2017.
His Lordship, Hon. Andrawu Maikai of Magistrate
Court Bukuru Jos South North Central Nigeria has adjourned to 8th
January, 2017 for hearing of Motion filed by Chief Smart Irabor Esq., counsel
to Evangelist Danjuma Fwenji who is standing trial for alleged criminal
enticement.
Hon. Leonard Dilkon, former member representing
Pankshin Kanke, Kanam Constituency in the House of Representatives dragged
Evangelist Fwenji to court in 2013 for alleged enticement of his wife, Joy
which is a criminal act under the Penal Code.
When the case was called today, counsel to
Complainant Francis Okafor Esq said the matter was slated for hearing and
further expressed his readiness for same adding that out of the eleven
witnesses, five were under subpoena. The counsel further stressed that one of
the five is a journalist and has been avoiding service and that very soon, an
application for a bench warrant for his arrest would be made.
In his submission, Irabor said they were not ready
because of their motion dated 8th December and filed on the 11th
of the same month which according to him, was before the honourable Court and
that the Complainant was already served. Consequently, he asked for a new date
for the motion to be heard.
Counsel to the Complainant said they were served with
the motion yesterday evening but that he actually saw it this morning. He
however, said that the process could not disrupt the day’s hearing stressing
that the intention of the motion was to frustrate today’s hearing and insisted
that hearing continued adding that it caused his client much resources to bring
the witnesses to court one of who is a serving member in the House of
representatives.
However, counsel to defendant observed that they
have the right to file the motion as guaranteed by the law adding that when a
motion is before the court all other processes must stop until the motion is
attended to and insisted for a new date for the motion to be heard. Counsel to
the Plaintiff said that if the matter must be adjourned it should not exceed
tomorrow but counsel to defendant insisted on a date in January 2018.
In his ruling, Hon Maikai expressed dissatisfaction
over the way and manner the matter was] delayed owing to unnecessary
adjournments. "Please, don’t tie us down to this case we should hasten the
process. I learnt the parties involve are clergymen and businessmen and this
call for seriousness also taking into cognizance that the matter has been on
since 2013 because I also inherited it”.
He therefore, adjourned the matter to 8 January, 2017.
Post a Comment