Chinedum Treasure
South African activist, Boniface Okonkwo currently in detention at the Nnewi correctional centre will remain in the facility till next month following adjournment of his trial at the Anambra State High Court on Wednesday.
Okonkwo who had been in detention since January 3 over alleged defamation of a businessman, Sir Emma Offor, was to appear in court on Wednesday for continuation of his matter but was not present.
The prosecution counsel, Alex Ejesieme (SAN) had told the court that the defendant could not appear in court due to instruction from the authorities of the correctional centers that no suspect should be brought to court following the planned nationwide protests slated for August 1.
Nigerian Correctional Service (NoS) had on Monday, placed the K9, intelligence and armed squads of the service on red alert, ahead of the proposed nationwide protests.
The NCoS spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, said the CG of the service had sought the collaboration of other security agencies to protect the custodial centres across the country.
But when the case was mentioned in court on Wednesday, Ejesieme said, “We got information from the Correctional Center that in view of the mass protest, they were mandated not to bring the suspect to court.”
Counsel to the defendant, Kevin Nwufo, on his part, said the case could not be filed ahead of the adjourned date due to shutdown of courts in the state over industrial action embarked on by judicial workers.
The judge, Justice Vincent Agbata adjourned the matter till September 26 for final adoption.
Okonkwo had claimed that his prolonged detention has resulted in his children facing threats of expulsion from school in South Africa due to unpaid school fees.
He had appealed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene in his case.
Okonkwo’s family has appealed for his release, citing the hardship they are facing due to his prolonged detention.
They claim that his continued incarceration is causing undue hardship and suffering for his family.
About Author
