Justice, Samira Bature, of a Federal Capital Territory (NAN) High Court on Monday threatened to issue a warrant against a property developer, Cecil Osakwe, and Victor Giwa over their persistent non-appearance for arraignment.
Osakwe and Giwa were to be arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on unlawful eviction and criminal intimidation and threat to life and damage to property to the tune of N300 million.
In a ruling on the letter of adjournment by the suspects, Justice Bature adjourned the matter until Feb. 17, for arraignment in the interest of justice.
” Should they fail to make appearance on that day, a date they themselves suggested, the court will have no option but to accede to the request of the prosecution to compel their appearance.”
At the resumed sitting which was scheduled for arraignment, the suit marked: FCT/HC/CR/22/2923 was again put off for a 4th time because the 1st and 2nd suspects were not in court.
The prosecution counsel M. O. Una, told the court that the case had been adjourned so many times on the request of the suspects .
“This is unfortunate, considering the history of this case. It has become very obvious that the suspects are avoiding arraignment, “ he said.
The counsel said since the matter was transferred to the court , the suspects have been seeking adjournments and the court has been magnanimously considering it.
The prosecution therefore argued that the persistent non-appearance of the suspects shows disrespect to the court.
According to Una, in the second letter the suspects made reference to seeking the adjournment to enable discussions over an out of court settlement.
He however, denied that, saying that there was no such discussion held.
Una pointed out that the complainant was in court and the 1st defendant who claims to be based abroad had never made any effort to appear.
He further argued that the court has the powers to compel their appearance and should exercise it.(NAN)
