Bomba Dauda
Sequence to the matter of an application by Prof. Chidi Anslem Odinkalu for an order for the enforcement of his fundamental rights, his counsel, Barr. Gloria Ballason, Esq, drew the attention of the Court on the fabrication of documents by the respondents and by extension secret trial.
Ballason made the observation during her submission at a hearing session into the matter of fundamental rights filed by Odinkalu at the Federal High Court sitting in Kawo, kaduna, today.
One of the respondents, “The Director Public Prosecutions, DPP, in the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice filed a direct criminal complaint with no case number,” she said.
Adding that, the respondents: DPP of Kaduna State, Governor of Kaduna State, Attorney General of Kaduna State, the Commissioner of Police Kaduna State and the Inspector General of Police, “motion exparte has no case number, their affidavit has no case number and the court order by the Magistrate also has no number. The implication of this is that, it is a secret trial.”
Speaking briefly to Journalists after the Court session, Counsel to the respondents, A.I Thomas, Deputy Director Commercial Law Department, Kaduna State Ministry of Justice ,said, They’ll prove wrong the allegation of fabrication of documents at the next hearing in Court.
For hindsight, in February, 2019 the Applicant granted an interview in one of the national Television.Stations and made some comments which were deemed to be contrary to the Panel Code Laws of Kaduna State, 2017, by the Attorney General of Kaduna State accordingly took steps to prosecute the Applicant.
However, the Applicant filed processes to challenge the steps taken against him at the trial Court and also filed this suit claiming the reliefs on his Application. Meanwhile, the presiding Judge, Justice Peter Hoommuk Nallong of the Federal High Court 2 has adjourned the case to 23rd July, 2020 for further hearing.
