A magistrate court sitting in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, adjourned the case involving the Ebiya traditional stool in Ajaokuta local government area to January 9, 2023 for hearing.
Senior magistrate, Abdul Memunat yesterday adjourned the case having listened to both prosecution and defence counsels’ arguments on the amendment of the charge.
The prosecution counsel, G.O. Yekoko told the court that the defence has just been filed on December 20 ,2022 with an amended charge and wants the case for hearing.
Responding, the defence counsel, H.O. Abbas objected and made an oral application for adjournment, stressing that the defence will not be able to take the amended charge without studying it.
Abbas said section 36(6) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria covered the defendant to enable him to prepare his defence.
He therefore made an oral application under sections 36(6)(b) and 348 (2)of Kogi State Criminal Justice Administration for adjournment for the defence to prepare adequately.
The court however graciously granted the plea and adjourned the case till 9th January 2023 for hearing.
A human rights activist, Haruna Ahmed Osike, had dragged one Momojimoh Mamudu Akaba for allegedly impersonating as the traditional ruler of Ebiya while the stool is still vacant.
In a seven-paragraph affidavit, Osike pointed out that Momojimoh Mamudu Akaba had deposed to an affidavit where he described himself as His Royal Highness Idu Ebiya.
He said Momojimoh Mamudu Akaba deposed to an affidavit before an area court grade II, Ebiya in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi State on 12th March , 2021.
Osike who noted that as an indigene of Ebiya , he was conversant with any development related to the traditional institution in Ebiya community, pointed out that to the best of his knowledge the Stool of Idu of Ebiya still remained vacant since the demise of the last occupant Late Alhaji Usman Uru Akaba.
