Strike delays ruling on Bamaiyi’s case

Akeem Nafiu, Lagos - 07.02.2008

The on-going strike by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is beginning to take its toll on litigations as the court’s ruling on the no-case submission filed by the former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ishaya Bamaiyi, over his alleged role in the attempted assassination of the Publisher of the Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Alex Ibru, could not be given.

On the third day of the indefinite strike by Judiciary workers, the gate to the Ikeja High court, venue of the proceedings of Bamaiyi’s matter, remained under lock and key.

Judges, lawyers and Litigants were prevented access to the court’s premises by the security operatives attached to the court. Justice Kayode Olubunmi Oyewole, the judge presiding over Bamaiyi’s matter had fixed February 16 as the date to rule on the no-case application brought by the accused person.

Bamaiyi’s lawyer, Mr. Osahon Idemudia, speaking on the no-case submission, said his client had no case to answer, because the prosecution had failed to prove to the court that the General committed the said offence.

He was of the opinion that some of the actions taken by his client were official. The prosecution team led by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), opposed the no-case submission, insisting that General Bamaiyi should be made to enter his defence against the various allegations.