By: Felix Ikpotor
Embattled factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree in for another round of legal battle as a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital has ordered that he should be tried and convicted in absentia.
Ruling in suit number PHC/997/CR/2016 between the State and Ojukaye Flag Amachree, trial judge, Justice Chinwendu Nwogu gave the order relying on Section 273 (a) , 165 (c) (d) , 195 and 359 (4) of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015.
The embattled former Asari-Toru local government chairman is standing trial for the murder of two persons.
He was granted bail by a Special Panel of the Court of Appeal on health grounds.
But since then, he has continued to evade trial, while playing key roles in his party.
Justice Nwogu while giving the order said, “This order of court shall be pasted in a conspicuous part in the open court in the High Court Complex, Port Harcourt, and shall also be published in at least two National Daily Newspapers prior to the commencement of the defendant/respondent’s trial in absentia pursuant to Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 359(4) of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2015.
“This order of court shall be pasted in a conspicuous part in the open court in the High Court Complex, Port Harcourt and shall also be published in at least two National Daily Newspapers, 30 days prior to the next adjourned date.
“That copies of the National Daily Newspapers wherein the order of court is published shall be deposited with the Registry of this court before the next adjourned date.”
The court adjourned further hearing in the matter till March 28, 2019, for plea of the defendants to be taken and hearing in the matter.
PHSpectator recalls that sma ejudge voided the congresses which threw up Flag-Amachree as the chairman of the APC in Rivers State.
