The absence of the counsel representing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in court today stalled the hearing in the case instituted against the President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Harold Benstowe and three other officials of the association, forcing the trial judge to adjourn hearing to February 13, 2023.

The Police lawyer, Eniyepere Sikpi was not available in court when the case of economic sabotage brought against the NAPO officials by the Nigeria Police Force came up for hearing on Monday, December 19, 2022

The NAPO officials namely, Harold Benstowe, John Jumbo, Christian Onwuamalam and Monday Nbasi were arraigned in court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and economic sabotage by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Thursday, October 13, 2022 in suit number: PMC/RMP/025A/2022 at the Rivers State Magistrate Court 10.

They were later granted bail on Monday, October 24, 2022 by the presiding Magistrate, Amadi Nnah, at Magistrate Court 10 in Port Harcourt and mandated to appear in court to undergo trial as a guarantee for being granted bail.

Consequently, the counsel to the defendants, M. M. Kalu asked the presiding Chief Magistrate, A. O. Amadi-Nnah to dismisses the application in the next hearing as it seems the Police and its counsel are not serious.

In an interview after the court session, M.M Kalu told Kristina Reports that he proposed the dismissal of the suit against his clients because the NAPO leaders have every right to protest if they are not satisfied with the conditions of employment their members were being subjected to.

“The matter is supposed to be for motion which the Commissioner of Police filed so as to stop the defendant from carrying out their protest. They (Police) alleged that they (Workers) want to carry out a protest and now they are in court, the defendants were in court, yet their (Police) lawyer is not in court.”

“So, it’s obvious that they are not serious to go on with the matter and we have informed the court that by the next adjournment we’ll make the necessary application to have their application dismissed.”

“It has no business in court, they are just delaying the proceedings of the law, the proper thing should be done and the proper thing is to allow the labour leaders, they have the right to protest if they want to and if they are not satisfied with the conditions of employment, the law permits them to protest. So, at the proper time, we’ll get the application dismissed so they can go on with their duty.”