Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
Ikeja High Court literally exploded Tuesday as both the defence counsel and the prosecution clashed over the fitness or otherwise of 419 accused, Emmanuel Nwude to continue to stand trial.
Ikeja High Court literally exploded Tuesday as both the defence counsel and the prosecution clashed over the fitness or otherwise of 419 accused, Emmanuel Nwude to continue to stand trial.
The eruption witnessed in court followed the Prosecutor, Rotimi Jacob's position that Nwude is fit enough to continue to stand trial in view of the available medical report on his health status.
Nwude, Amaka Anajemba and Chief Nzeribe Okoli are facing-trial for their alleged role in the $262 million scam.
Unimpressed by Jacob's position on Nwude's health status, leading defence counsel, Chief Godwin Kolawole Ajayi (SAN) accused the prosecutor of being unduly personal in the matter.
"Mr Jacob is getting personally involved in this matter. As a Minister in the Temple of Justice, we should not be emotionally involved in a case involving our clients. I insist to be recorded that I object to his style of prosecution," Ajayi charged.
The senior advocate in order to drive home his point warned: "If it happens again there will be an explosion in this court.
And if care is not taken, I will also insist that he be moved to the back seat. It's our right in court as a senior member of the bar," he fumed.
However, Jacob insisted that he has been doing his job fairly and deligently, while expressing his displeasure at the outburst of the lead defence counsel.
"I take exception to the comments by the learned senior advocate. For a senior counsel to promise explosion, if I should do something he does not like is unbecoming of a Senior Advocate to try to cow me down, I don't think I have done anything personal," Jacob returned the salvo.
Earlier, other defence counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Ricky Tafa (SAN)and Amobi Nzelu faulted the prosecution assertion that the embattled businessman is fit enough to face the rigour trial. In their respective submission, they prayed the court to order a comprehensive medical examination on the accused to determine the nature of his sickness.