Tina Amanda
Former Leader of Rivers state House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd has failed again to appear before a high court sitting in Port Harcourt to take his plea in the suit filed against him by the Rivers state government on malicious damage of the mace.
During the court proceeding, counsel to the accused, Onyenkwere Azunda who represented the lead counsel pleaded with the court that he is yet to reach out to the defendant, adding that the lead counsel is not also present in court.
Justice Chiwendu Nwogu who was displeased with the absence of the defendant and the lead counsel in court adjourned to 23rd of May for plea.
Speaking to our reporter, Tina Amanda, counsel to the defendant Onyenkwere Azunda, said the prosecuting counsel should do the needful, stressing that the accused Chidi Lloyd is willing to appear in court.
“The prosecuting counsel should do the needful. They have not taken steps that is why we are saying until they take steps, they know what the law says. If you file a charge against an accused person you will need to take the charge to the person for acknowledgement and endorsement. There are so many steps as directed by Rivers state criminal justice administration act, so the prosecuting counsel’s know what to do and which they have not done”
On his part, Counsel to Rivers state government, Damilare George Adeyemi, said it is not a tenable exercise for both defendant and his lead counsel to be absent in court.
“The counsel representing the accused person pleaded with the court that the lead counsel was not present in court today. That is not an excuse, but in the spirit of justice and fair hearing we concede to the adjournment and we are expecting them to do the needful in the next adjourned date”
