A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered that the sacked Rivers State Factional Chairman of Rivers APC, Ojukaye Flag Amachree will be tried and convicted in absentia if found guilty.
Ruling on Suit Number PHC/997/CR/2016 between the State and Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Trial Judge, Justice Chinwendu Nwogu said the order ruling is pursuant to Section 273 (a) , 165 (c) (d) , 195 and 359 (4) of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015.
The Sacked Rivers State APC 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. Since then, he has continued to evade trial, while playing key roles in the factionalised Rivers State APC.
Justice Nwogu ruled: ” That 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 2 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.
” That 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 2 National Daily Newspapers, 30 days prior to the next adjourned date”
The court added: “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 That adjourned the matter to the 28th day of March 20 19 (28/3/2019) for Plea/Hearing.
