Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iyayi Laminkara, has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Kpotun, to produce the Federal Comptroller of Prisons and the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Port Harcourt Prisons over their failure to produce former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local government area, Ojukaye Flag Amachree.
Justice Lamikanra said the Federal Comptroller should appear before the High court in Port Harcourt to explain why he and the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in Port Harcourt should not be sent to prison for disobeying a court order.
He said the action of the Prison authorities is an affront on the court.
The Judge also put the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 6, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the state Attorney General and other security agencies on notice to ensure compliance to his order.
Also in the ruling, the court struck out an application filed by Roland Otaro, lawyer to Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, which sought to quash the charges against his client for lack of merit and what he referred to as premature application.
Speaking with newsmen outside the courtroom, Otaro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said that striking the application out has denied his client the right to fair hearing.
He said, “We have heard the ruling. It’s a ruling of the court but our grouse is why the court struck out our application.”
“Why should our application be struck out when it was not even heard. The court did not look at it. I will need to consult my client to know if we will appeal this ruling.”
Counsel to the state government, Godwin Obla, SAN, said the court order came as a result of deliberate refusal of Prisons officials to bring the accused person to court for his case.
He said time has come for public officials to live up to their responsibilities and obey court orders.
According to Obla, “Today is sad day for the institutions of administration of Justice. It is sad for the Prisons authorities. In spite of being served, they have refused to produce the accused person in court.
“There has been no court order setting aside the production warrant of this court. This is an affront on the court.”
The matter was adjourned to October 19 for hearing.
Meanwhile, state governor, Nyesom Wike, has granted pardon to 9 convicts in commemoration of Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary.
Culled dailypost
