JUSTICE JOHN TOSHO DENIES FG SECRET TRIAL OF KANU

Friday 19 February 2016

In what appears more like a successful pressure, Justice John Tosho of federal high court has ruled that the leader of indigenous people of Biafra will not be given secret trial. Recall that the prosecution team had filed for a secret trial on grounds that the witnesses against Kanu are afraid and would only stand for witness if given a secret trial. FG further alleged that IPOB has been violent which will pose a threat to the lives of the witnesses, however the alleged violence is coming without evidence even as IPOB have been murdered and violently attacked while they remained peaceful.

Meanwhile, countering the plea, the defence team of the leader of Indigenous people of Biafra, who explicitly argued that trying Kanu in secret would amount to being condemned. “When people are tried in secret, i ask my self, are they already condemned before trial" Muoma had asked in his argument.

 

 After the submissions and argument, Justice John Tosho held that Kanu will not be tried in secret, citing the reasons of the FG as immature and can't hold water. He reminded them that is the duty of the Nigerian security to protect whichever witness they have and so ruled that Kanu shall be tried publicly.

On his second ruling, the trial judge also held that the properties of the second defendant taken during his arrest be returned. The DSS during the arrest of the second defendant has seized and unlawfully confiscated the said properties as listed are Mecedez Benz GL450, Toyota Camry and Rav4 which was forcely taken after he was arrested. The prosecution team pleaded that they were not aware of the said properties and would communicate the authority to return the properties to its rightful owner. The case was adjourned to 7, 8, 9, and 10th of March for the provision of witnesses.  Ibeh Gift Amarachi and Okonkwo Isaac Somto of family writers, reporting from Federal high court Abuja.

I’m alive, says Ngige as man slumps, dies in National Assembly On February 19, 20161:54 amIn NewsComments 70 Shares 521 By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA—A man in his late 50s, yesterday, slumped and died at the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly. Dr Chris Ngige Dr Chris Ngige This is just as an online publication has said that it was the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, that slumped at the National Assembly during his ministry’s budget defence. Meanwhile, the minister, on his Facebook account, debunked the death rumour, saying he was hale and hearty. The deceased, whose identity was not known at press time, reportedly slumped at the third floor of the House of Representatives about 10a.m. An eyewitness told Vanguard that the deceased slumped in front of the office of Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs and efforts by a medical team to revive him failed. Although an online publication had mentioned the name of Senator Ngige as the deceased, Vanguard was told by sources around where the victim collapsed that the man did not look like the minister. The witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Vanguard that the deceased collapsed as he tried to open an office of one of the lawmakers. Another account had it that the deceased, who was described as lanky, fair and in white agbada, may have been a contractor as he was not part of the ongoing budget defence. It was gathered that an aide to one of the lawmakers had tried to revive the victim before the medical team from the Senate wing arrived. It was further gathered that there was no ambulance to take the person, described as a guest to the National Assembly, to hospital until he was taken in a private vehicle to the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was confirmed dead. Another account had it that the deceased came to see Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Haliru Jika, but slumped while trying to open the lawmaker’s door. It was further gathered that the hospital had wanted to carry out an autopsy, but his son said no and took the body to Auchi in Edo State, for burial according to Muslim rites. Meanwhile, Ngige wrote on his Facebook wall, through his Personal Assistant, Nwachukwu Ngige: “Dear friends, please disregard the wicked tissue of lies contained in an online publication about an unfortu-nate incident said to have taken place today at the National Assembly and in which I was said to have been involved.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/m-alive-says-ngige-as-man-slumps-dies-in-national-assembly/