The Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama on Tuesday threatened to issue a bench warrant against an Abuja based lawyer, Victor Giwa, in an alleged charge of unlawful eviction and criminal intimidation and threat to life of one Ms Asabe Waziri.

The defendants were to be arraigned on alleged unlawful eviction and criminal intimidation but they were absent in court.

At the resumed sitting of the nine-count charge marked: CR/222/2023, counsel to the plaintiff, M.A Una told the court that at the last sitting of the court, Victor Giwa, the 2nd defendant, had written to the court that he was sick but there was, however, evidence that he was before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja as a Counsel in another matter.

He therefore urged the court to grant a bench warrant for his arrest for arraignment.

Responding, Deborah Nwoke, Counsel to the 2nd defendant, Victor Giwa, insisted that her client was sick and had a medical report to prove it but did not contest the fact that he was in court that day.

Earlier, the plaintiff’s lawyer had told the court that the 1st defendant, Cecil Osakwe, is evading service and that several attempts to serve him failed and asked the court to grant an application for substituted service that can be pasted on his residence at No11, Aso Drive, Abuja.

In a short ruling, Justice Samira Bature, granted that the service should be pasted on the residence of the 1st defendant and threatened to issue a bench warrant on the 2nd defendant should he fail to appear on the next adjourned date.

The trial judge emphasized the grace was given to 2nd defendant because he is a lawyer and therefore urged him to appear in the next adjourned date or the application for a bench warrant would be granted.

The defendants are facing a nine-count charge bordering on unlawful eviction and criminal intimidation and threat to life and damage to property to the tune of N300 million.

Justice Bature adjourned to Wednesday, July 17 further mention and subsequent arraignment.

Last updated on September 7th, 2024 at 05:43 am