A
High Court in Port Harcourt has issued two bench warrants
directing the Rivers State Police Commissioner to immediately
arrest Former Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly,
Mr Chidi Lloyd for him to be produced for his attempted murder
trial.
Justice
Chinwendu Nwogu of the Rivers State High Court 19 issued the two
bench warrants on Thursday following the absence of Chidi Lloyd
and his counsels at the court.
The
court ordered that Chidi Lloyd should be detained at the Port
Harcourt Federal Prisons till the next adjourned dates for his
attempted murder trial.
The
embattled Former Majority Leader was expected to take his plea
in CHARGE NO: PH/692CR/2018 - THE STATE V. CHIDI LLYOD and .CHARGE
NO: PH/693 CR/2018 - THE STATE V. CHIDI LLYOD.
The
matter has been adjourned to 10th January, 2018 for the for the
Police to produce Chidi Lloyd to take his plea.
Lawyers
to Chidi Lloyd were in court on Wednesday when their objection
was dismissed. On Thursday, the same counsels appeared and
registered their names before the court, only to disappear when
the case was mentioned.
Addressing
journalists after the court sitting, Counsel to the Rivers State
Government, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) stated that the State is
ready for the expeditious trial of the former lawmaker.
He
said: " The defendant's absence was not excused at all. On the
basis of that, we applied for bench warrants to be issued for the
two different cases to compel the appearance of the defendant in
court on the next adjourned date of 10th January, 2019."Two
Bench Warrants have now been issued mandating the Commissioner of
Police of Rivers State to arrest and to detain Chidi Lloyd in Port
Harcourt prison till the next adjourned date and to produce the
defendant in court on the next adjourned date. "
Also,
0sacked Rivers State APC Chairman, Mr Ojukaye Flag Amachree again
stayed away from court as Rivers State Government moved for him
to take his plea in his second murder trial before Hon. Justice Joy
N. Akpughunum .
Additionally
, Counsel to Ojukaye Flag Amachree was absent in respect to
Case Number PH/1664/CR/2016 between the State and Ojukaye Flag
Amachree.
Following
the absence of Ojukaye Flag Amachree to take his plea on his
second murder charge, the Court adjourned to January 24, 2018 for the
sacked Rivers APC Chairman to take his plea.
Addressing
journalists, counsel to the Rivers State Government, Chief Godwin
Obla (SAN) said that it was out of the abundance of caution that
prosecution requested for a short adjournment to avail the accused
person the opportunity to take his plea.
Obla
(SAN) noted that hearing notice will be issued and served on the
accused person and his counsel. He assured that justice
will be done in the suit.
He
said: "The matter was to today at their instance. We are
in court again, the defendant is not in court and his counsel is not
in court. His counsel has not written to the court to excuse his
absence.
"Out
of the abundance of caution because we know that this is a criminal
trial, we decided deliberately not to proceed because if we
proceed it will look like the state is just interested in infringing
on the constitutional rights of the accused person. The
state is interested in the expeditious and fair trial of the accused
person. "
The
Senior Advocate of Nigeria added: " We have out of the abundance
of caution applied for a short date to enable fresh hearing notice to
be served on the accused person. The matter has been adjourned
to the 24th of January 2018 for plea. Hearing notice will be
issued and served on them. As officers of the court, we shall also do
a letter to the counsel, notifying him of the new date."
He
noted that by the next adjourned date Ojukaye Flag Amachree is not in
court, the law allows for alternative avenues for trial. Obla
assured that Justice will be done in the matter
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