Judicial Dilemma as Pastor Aigbe, Passenger Uju Shun Trial at Magistrate, Approach High Court
Judicial Dilemma as Pastor Aigbe, Passenger Uju Shun Trial at Magistrate, Approach High Court
The trial of the Presiding Pastor of the House On The Rock Church, Uche Aigbe, has again been adjourned indefinitely.
Aigbe, is being tried for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms found in his possession.
Recalled that a Chief Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja in August ruled that Aigbe has a criminal case to answer for possessing prohibited firearms.
The no-case submission made by the Pastor was dismissed by Chief Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail Muhammad on the ground that the objection to trial lacked merit and substance.
Our source reports that pastor Aigbe caused a stir on Sunday, February 12, 2023, when he mounted the pulpit carrying an AK-47 rifle in the midst of the tension and anxiety that surrounded the February 25 presidential election. He has also been quoted to have made some controversial remarks about the election.
However, when the case came up today for defence, it was gathered that Aigbe’s matter could not go on because a certiorari proceeding against Magistrate Abdulazeez was filed at the High Court.
A source at the court said: “The Pastors’s matter couldn’t go on because they filed certiorari proceeding against His worship Abdulazeez Muhammad and Cp Fct at the High Court before my lord, Hon Justice Adeniyi. Justice Adeniyi had granted order for stay of proceeding pending the determination of application before him.
When the matter came up today for continuation of defence, Magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail muhammad ruled that he can not make any adverse order against High Court and told the parties he can not proceed with today’s proceedings and adjourned the matter sine die.
Similarly, the trial of Anti-Tinubu airplane passenger, Obiajulu Uja at the Magistrate Court had also been stalled due to the non-appearance of the defendant and counsels.
It was also gathered that the defendant had been granted bail at a High Court and since then he had refused to attend proceeding at the magistrate court.
The prosecutor, Prosecution counsel is Umo inah however informed the court that the Obiajulu Uja was granted bail without the knowledge. He only got to know that when he appeared in court.
But magistrate Abdulazeez Ismail muhammad also adjourned the matter to 7th November, 2023 for report and or hearing”.
Uja, a supporter of the OBIdient movement; in early April, was carried off a Lagos-Abuja flight, after he started a lone protest demanding that President Bola Tinubu (then President-Elect) must never be sworn in as President, on May 29.
