Court issues bench warrant for arrest of businessman

Warrant
By Uche Bibilari
Gwagwalada (FCT), March 12, 2020 (NAN) A Gwagwalada Upper Area Court, Abuja on Thursday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a businessman, Uhiara Edwin, over disrespect to court summons and failure to appear.

The Judge, Sani Umar, adjourned the matter case until April 7, for arraignment.

Edwin, President of Incorporated Trustees of Grassroot Entrepreneurs for Community Empowerment in Nigeria failed to appear before the court after a direct criminal complain was filed against him by Mohammed Yusuf, Yvonne Benson, Ayodele Olayele, Osita Isidore, Kachalla Mala.

The police filed a three-count charged of alleged forgery, criminal breach of trust and fabrication of false evidence to mislead public officers.

The offence, the police said, contravened the provisions of sections 364, 312, and 158 of the Penal Code.

Earlier, Counsel to the Complainants, Ridwan Sadiq, applied that a bench warrant be issued to compel the defendant to appear in court, citing Section 352 of Administrative of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Sadiq argued that Edwin was absent for no reason and did not also appear in court on March 4, slated for arraignment.

He said the suspect claimed to be sick on the said date, adding that the excuse was granted by the court and similar excuse repeated again.

Sadiq told the court that the excuse by defence counsel, that his client had a doctor’s appointment, was an after thought and should not be granted instead should be served a bench warrant.

The counsel to Edwin, Gabriel Egbule, however, opposed the complainants’ counsel’s application and urged the court to discountenance the bench warrant.

According to him, his client has an appointment with his doctor, adding that he had no intention to disrespect the court .

He prayed the court to grant his client another opportunity, saying he would be in court to take his plea.(NAN)
UU/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza