Judge threatens to discharge 24 Boko Haram suspects

Date: 22-06-2012 6:56 am (11 years ago) | Author: Paddy Hayes
- at 22-06-2012 06:56 AM (11 years ago)
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Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) | credits: File
 
 
 
Justice Abdul Kafarati, a Judge of the Federal High Court, on Thursday in Abuja, threatened to discharge the 24 suspected Boko Haram members standing trial before the court.
 
The judge, who granted the police a last adjournment for September 18, said the prosecution counsel had not showed diligence in prosecuting the case.
 
Justice Kafarati said, “I should have discharged the accused persons today, but I am compelled by justice to restrain such action and allow the prosecution one last chance.
 
“The court had adjourned this matter four times at the instance of the prosecutor, who had always promised to bring his witnesses to court but failed each time.
 
“I shall, therefore, discharge the accused persons should the prosecution fail to bring the witnesses to court on the next adjourned date.
 
“The prosecution was ordered to avail the accused persons’ lawyers’ proof of evidence.
 
“It is against the court procedure not to do that a year after the accused persons were arraigned.”
 
Some of the suspects are Umar Alia 21, Musa Yakubu Gava (38), Awalu Mohd (35), Modu Bama (36), Yakubu Modu Kolibe (15), Mohd Alhaji Modu (23), Badare Hassan (27), Mohd Umar (21) and Mohd Sheriff (23).
 
The police alleged that the accused, who were facing a five counts, conspired to commit felony and act of terrorism in Maiduguri.
 
The prosecution held that the accused committed an offence punishable under Section 33(1) (b) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2011, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
 
Thirteen months after the police arraigned the suspects, no witness had been presented.
 
At the resumed hearing, Mr. Bernard Nnamdi, the counsel for the police, filed an oral application, praying for the adjournment of the case because of the absence of the prosecution witnesses.
 
The application was jointly opposed by Kevin Okoro, Mohammed Lucas and Mohammed Ipa, counsel to the accused.
 
They urged the court to discharge the accused on the grounds of lack of diligent prosecution.
 
They held that all the adjournments witnessed in the case so far were at the instance of the prosecution counsel.
 
They further noted that the police were only interested in the detention of the “presumably innocent persons.”
 
The counsel said the prosecution had failed to avail the accused the proof of evidence after over one year of their detention.
 
They also said Section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act empowered the judge to discharge the accused if the prosecutor failed to provide the cause of action.
 


via Punch
 


http://www.punchng.com/news/judge-threatens-to-discharge-24-boko-haram-suspects/


Posted: at 22-06-2012 06:56 AM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
- lopez2424 at 22-06-2012 08:45 AM (11 years ago)
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 Shocked Shocked This Judge needs to slap himself. Nigeria leaders are not only sleeping but in Coma. Any surprise that the country is in such mess?
Posted: at 22-06-2012 08:45 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming
Reply
- pauline4u at 22-06-2012 07:20 PM (11 years ago)
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Absolute rubbish!
Posted: at 22-06-2012 07:20 PM (11 years ago) | Newbie
Reply
- babyleslie at 22-06-2012 11:49 PM (11 years ago)
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How much bribe did Buhari & Babangida give u??
Posted: at 22-06-2012 11:49 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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- Boobies at 23-06-2012 12:37 AM (11 years ago)
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Soon d tables will turn and d hunters will become the hunted Sad Sad Sad
Posted: at 23-06-2012 12:37 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming
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- Solidstonez at 23-06-2012 09:47 AM (11 years ago)
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Quote from: lopez2424 on 22-06-2012 08:45 AM
Shocked Shocked This Judge needs to slap himself. Nigeria leaders are not only sleeping but in Coma. Any surprise that the country is in such mess?
you can say that again

Posted: at 23-06-2012 09:47 AM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Reply
- richi192 at 29-06-2012 12:04 PM (11 years ago)
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na dem dem abeg

Posted: at 29-06-2012 12:04 PM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Reply
- chicco77 at 3-07-2012 05:06 PM (11 years ago)
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 Roll Eyes Roll Eyes
Posted: at 3-07-2012 05:06 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Reply
- PoliticxGuru at 19-08-2015 07:18 PM (8 years ago)
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Trash
Posted: at 19-08-2015 07:18 PM (8 years ago) | Hero
Reply