The Chediya Chief Magistrates’ Court in Zaria, Kaduna State, has adjourned till July 4, continuation of hearing in the case of 53 accused persons arrested for gay marriage.
Recall that no fewer than 45 out of the 53 suspects had jumped bail.
At the proceeding yesterday, the prosecutor, Mannir Nasir, told the court that at the last sitting, the accused persons (numbers 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26 and 54) were in court.
Nasir applied for a bench warrant and a separate trial of accused person number 2, 3, 9, 12, 14, 20, 21, 26 and 54 under Section 259 of the criminal procedure code.
The lead counsel to the accused persons, Kimi Appah from TS, a Kaduna-based NGO, argued against the bench warrant.
The court ruled that counsel to the accused neither gave any point of law nor cogent reason in view of the application by the prosecutor.
“The court hereby granted and summoned the surety to come to the court and show cause why accused persons were not in court.
“The court therefore granted the application by the prosecutor for a separate trial under Section 259 of the CPC,” the court said.
After cross-examining Abdul-Aziz Mohammed, one of the witnesses, Mr. Appah filed an oral application for a definite hearing to facilitate accelerated hearing.
The prosecutor, however, objected to the application, saying most of the witnesses were police officers and may be officially engaged elsewhere.
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