The hearing of hearing of a kidnap charge preferred against two suspects, Jude Odimegwu and Nwokolo Maxwell was failed to hold following the absence of counsel to one of the defendants Chima Gift
Gift, is the counsel to the first defendant, Jude Odimegwu.
The two men are standing trial before an Nnewi High Court 1, over the alleged kidnap of Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra governorship election, Obiorah Agbasimalo.
This is the second time the trial will be stalled, about a month ago, Thompson Ogueriwu, counsel to the second defendant Nwokolo Maxwell failed to show up making it impossible for the case to be heard.
Recall that the LP candidate, Agbasimalo, was kidnapped on September 18, 2021 at Uli community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, while returning from a campaign rally and has not been seen till date.
But when the matter was called up last Friday, the presiding Judge of the court, Justice C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi agreed that the first defence counsel, Gift Esq. duly informed the court through a telephone call that he was in Abuja for another urgent matter of national interest and as such would not be present in court.
Justice Mbonu-Nwenyi who confirmed that the court was duly notified about the absence of the first defence counsel, a day before the hearing date, noted that a criminal case of this nature cannot go on without the presence of a defence counsel.
She, therefore, adjourned the matter to November 17, 2023 for definite hearing.
