The former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local government, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, will now stand trial before two separate courts in the High Court in Port Harcourt.
Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iyayi Laminkara, had in a ruling in October last year said she would not continue with the matters following the series of petitions written against her which were already being investigated by the National Judicial Council, NJC.
Ojukaye’s matter before Justice Magaret Opara has however been re-assigned to Justice Joy Akpughunum while the one before the Chief Judge was re-aasigned to Justice Chinwendu Nworgu both of the High Court in Port Harcourt.
The former Chairman of Asari-Toru Local government, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree is standing trial on two separate charges of murder and attempted murder.
When the matter came up before Justice Akpughunum, the judge queried why the accused was not in court despite being put on notice.
Counsel to Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, Emenike Ebete apologized to the the court and promised to do the proper thing on the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned to the 9th of February for hearing.
Meanwhile, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu has fixed February 8 for the former Asari-Toru Local government chairman, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree to take plea for the charges against him.
Justice Nwogu adjourned the date after counsel to Ojukaye, Emenike Ebete, told the court that his client is still on admission in the Hospital.
State Counsel, Godwin Obla who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria spoke with newsmen outside the courtroom said, “We have applications we want to tender to this court.”
“1We can’t continue to tolerate his absence from court but as a Senior Lawyer, I decided to be patient. I hope they will bring him to court for him to take his plea.”
For his part, Emenike Ebete who is representing Ojukaye said his client will be in court on the next adjourned date to take his plea if he is disposed.
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