A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Lokoja has warned defendants and their counsels seeking “frivolous” adjournments to desist, saying “criminal cases can not be adjourned for more than two weeks to fast track the speedy trials of cases in courts.”
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Abdul Maimunat, gave warning in Lokoja on Friday, while reacting to the letter written by a defence counsel in a traditional title case involving the Idu of Ebiya traditional stool in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state.
Maimunat said since the case was criminal in nature, the court could not grant the long-deferred adjournment sought for the defendant, adding that “it can not be more than two weeks at most.”
She also warned the defendant that failure of his counsel to appear before the court during the next sitting, the defendant must be prepared to defend the case himself.
The defence counsel, H. O. Abbas, had earlier written to notify the court about the reason he was absent, seeking another adjournment.
But the prosecution counsel, G.O. Ottowu objected, arguing that the case was ready for commencement of hearing and the prosecution was ready to go on with it.
In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate adjourned the case until June 7, 2023, for the commencement of hearing.
