Court Orders Arrest Of Traditional Ruler In Nasarawa

Eric M. Kuju

The Chief Magistrate Court 3 sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State has today (Friday February 3, 2023), ordered the arrest of the Otaru of Ugya, Mallam Musa Adamu for failure to obey its summons.

Ruling on the application by the counsel to the complainants, Barr. S. K. Sheltu, the magistrate issued a bench warrant to compel the appearance of Mallam Musa Adamu who is the defendant, before the court.

In his application before the court, counsel to the complainants, Barr. S. K. Sheltu said: “On the last adjourned date being 16^th January 2023, he defendant sent a message to this court and he was represented in court by a counsel Orgaza Dennis Esq.

“He alluded to the fact that that day he (the defendant) wasn’t feeling fine. And the court ruled and directed his counsel that the defendant should be in court today or produce evidence of ill health from a recognized hospital.

“But today, neither the defendant nor his counsel is in court. Therefore, we apply formally by Section 131 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Nasarawa State, to issue a bench warrant against the defendant Mallam Musa Adamu to be arrested and brought before this honourable court since he chose to disobey the summons issued by this honourable court.”

The magistrate then granted the application by Barr. S. K. Sheltu and adjourned the matter to February 20, 2023.

Recall that some members of Ugya community of Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State had taken their Village Head, Mallam Musa Adamu to Court for what they described as criminal breach of trust.

The matter which was scheduled for hearing on January 16, 2023 could not proceed due to the defendant’s absence which led to the adjournment of the matter to February 3, 2023 with an order from the court that Mallam Musa Adamu must be present in court for the hearing.