A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has mandated the Chairman of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON), Rivers State, Jasper Jumbo to appear before it to stand trial for forgery, impersonation and false claims.
The presiding judge, Justice Tamunoigoni Orji issued this mandate on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 after dismissing a preliminary objection filed by Jasper Jumbo, wherein he asked the court to quash the four count charge brought against him by the Inspector General of Police.
She mandated the accused to appear for trial on April 25, May 2 and May 23, 2023, all of which coincidentally are Tuesdays.
Recall that counsel to the IGP, Adam Ugwuanyi had accused Jasper Jumbo of refusing to produce all relevant documents relating to the said preliminary objection as a tactic aimed at delaying the hearing of the substantive suit.
Counsel to the accused, M. Onakpoya was said to have failed to produce the said documents which stalled the hearing of the case on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, and led to the case being adjourned to Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Reacting to the court’s ruling, Ugwuanyi told Kristina Reports that the ruling dismissing the preliminary objection was a milestone on the path to winning the case.
“We are winning the battles; we are yet to win the war, but we can afford any little celebration; it happened today.”
“The court made a ruling dismissing the objection he made that the court should quash the four count charge against him. The court has declined that application and dismissed it, that it doesn’t have merit.”
“All the facts that were deposed to in that affidavit, the court found out that they were worthless and they lack substance. So, the court has mandated him to enter his criminal trial which he can never avoid.”
“Unless he wants to jump bail, and trial can even be continued in his absence, whatever decision he wants, let him make but the court has ordered that his criminal trial must continue.”
He expressed confidence in the capacity of the court to dispense with the case as quickly as possible, stating that the prosecution was ready to present witnesses and all relevant evidence to prove its case against the accused.
“Those are the three dates; on those days, we are looking at prosecution bringing in, fielding witnesses because the court is a hardworking court, it doesn’t waste time. So, the prosecution too will do their best to come in and make their witnesses to testify.”
Efforts by Kristina Reports to reach the counsel to the accused proved abortive as he was not sighted anywhere around the court premises minutes after the proceedings.
We pray for more info, while praying earnestly for victory on the part of IGP for the JMH has over stayed on this mounting. Applauds to Kristina Reports