A defence counsel on Thursday incurred the wrath of an Abuja senior magistrate, Anna Akobi, when he misled the court about his client’s state of health.
Akobi became furious with the counsel after he had told the court that his client, who was absent in court, was sick, only for the accused to suddenly appear hale and hearty during the proceedings.
She warned the defence counsel never to lie to the court again or stand the risk of being charged with contempt.
Akobi, however, adjourned the case till January 30 for definite hearing and presentation of witness after giving the warning.
The counsel had earlier applied for an adjournment when the case was mentioned in court, claiming his client contacted him that he was sick and could not make it to the court.
But the bubble burst when the accused person rushed into the court room when the hearing was still ongoing.
The counsel, who was obviously embarrassed, told his client: “I thought you were sick.”
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Mohammed Garba, had told the court that the defence counsel had also informed him before the sitting that his client was sick.
Garba said: “I do not know if it is the work of the counsel to inform the court of the whereabouts of an accused person or the person who stood as surety in this matter.
“I want it to be on record that my PW1 (prosecution’s witness 1) is present in court and ready to testify but I have no option than to concede to the counsel’s application for an adjournment.”
The accused person was first arraigned in November last year and admitted to bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.
The accused person, a security analyst in Utako, is being tried for allegedly using stone to destroy the side glass of an official vehicle of the United Nations, with registration number 202 UN 80.
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