An Abuja high court sitting in Kubwa district has summoned President Goodluck Jonathan to appear before it to give evidence in the case of alleged forgery of presidential directives' bromide published in LEADERSHIP newspaper of April 3, 2013.
BONUS: http://www.lamzat.com/2013/07/nigerian-army-reacts-to-al-mustaphas.html
Check us on facebook and Like our page https://www.facebook.com/LamzatBlogWorldwide . Do follow us on twitter@LamzatBlog as well +LamzatBlog77 .
Shop at http://shop.monetizer101.com/Lamzat
We welcome your advert placements, sponsorships and political promotions.
Justice Usman Musale had issued a summons (subpoena ad testificandum) dated July 15, 2013 to the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria courtesy of federal ministry of justice headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
The subpoena , which was sequel to the request of the lead lawyer to LEADERSHIP journalists, Mr. Femi Falana, stated that the president should appear before the court "from day to day until the cause is tried, to give evidence on behalf of the accused persons and also to bring with you and produce at the time and aforesaid the purportedly forged document titled 'presidential directive' having on it the seal of the office of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria published on the front page of Leadership newspaper of 3rd day of April, 2013."
The federal government, had on June 27, 2013 re-arraigned two LEADERSHIP journalists namely, group news editor, Mr. Tony Amokeodo and senior correspondent , Mr. Chibuzo Ukaibe on an alleged 11-count criminal charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
The journalists were, however, granted bail by the trial judge, having pleaded not guilty and the court consequently adjourned the case to July 16, 2013 for hearing.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the lead lawyer to the federal government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) told the court that he was ready to go on with trial, but Falana informed the court that a subpoena personally signed by the trial judge was served on the presidency via the ministry of justice.Falana also told the court that he had filed a motion on notice asking for an order of the court to suspend further proceedings in the matter indefinitely (sine die) to await the end of the term of President Jonathan to enable him to testify as a witness for the accused persons/applicants.
Falana premised his motion on the grounds that the fundamental right of the accused persons to fair hearing could not be observed by the trial court as their application for the issuance and service of subpoena ad testificandum on President Jonathan had not been granted by the court.
allAfrica.com
No comments :
Post a Comment