Vandalization: Court Threatens To Jail APC Candidate, Others Over Absence At Trial
The Federal High Court seating in Lafia, Nasarawa State has threatened to revoke the bail granted to defendants facing trial for alleged vandalism of rail slippers including a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections. if any of them fail to be present in court on the next adjourned date.
Justice Afolabi Nehizena the trial judge said this on Wednesday (November 16, 2022) when one of the defendants was absent in court without any proof to justify his action.
It could be recalled that Mr. Yusuf Mada, the APC candidate for Nassarawa Eggon West State constituency in the 2023 election was arraigned alongside 29 others in June 2021 for alleged vandalism of rail slippers.
Yusuf Mada was a former Special Adviser (SA) to Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.
The judge was reacting when one of the defendants was said not to be in court because he was involved in an accident as disclosed by the surety
Justice Nehizena however directed the surety to provide a medical report or pictorial evidence to show that the defendant was admitted to the hospital and cannot be in court.
She explained that the matter was long and she wanted to start the hearing unfailingly on the next adjourned date.
She said any defendant who failed to be in court on the next adjourned date would have his bail revoked and would spend Christmas at the Correctional Centre.
Justice Nehizena, therefore, adjourned the case to 16 and 17 of December for hearing.
In an interview with newsmen after the adjournment, Obafemi Tijjani, Prosecuting Counsel assured that the police are ready to prosecute the matter to ensure that justice is served.
The Prosecuting Counsel said all their witnesses are available for presentation to prove their case on the next adjourned dates.
