The trial of 20 Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for attempted murder, could not proceed today due to the absence of the NUPENG National President, Mr Williams Akporeha, who is the second prosecution witness in the case.
In the suit, marked: FCT/HC/CR/042/2023, a one-time PTD National Chairman, Lucky Osesua, is charged alongside 19 others before Justice Yusuf Halilu, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a five-count charge bordering on attempted murder, breach of peace, and assault.
The defendants were alleged to have attacked Akporeha; the Union’s Secretary-General, Olawale Afolabi; and the new PTD National Chairman, Augustine Egbon, thus acting in a manner likely to cause their death, among other offences.
Also charged with Osesua are Dayyabu Garga; Humble Obinna; Akinolu Olabisi; Godwin Nwaka; Tiamiu Sikiru; Abdulmimin Shaibu; and John Amajuoyi.
Others are Zaira Aregbo, Patrick Erhivwor, Stephen Ogheneruemu, Gift Ukponku, Sunday Ezeocha, and seven others.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed hearing in the case today, the prosecution counsel, A.R. Tahir, informed the court of Akporeha’s unavoidable absence, saying that the PW2 was outside of the country and was unable to attend court today as a result of his flight delay due to bad weather.
The prosecutor, however, asked the court to grant the prosecution an adjournment to enable the witness to attend court on the next adjourned date.
“We apologise for the inconvenience. To show our seriousness, we will be asking for two clear dates,” Tahir prayed the court.
The lead counsel for the defendant, Christopher Oshomegie SAN, did not object to the application for adjournment by the prosecution.
He, however, informed the court that the 20th defendant, Adamu Ibrahim, whose absence on November 20, 2024, forced adjournment to today, was in court.
According to him, “In the circumstance, we will not be opposing the adjournment. However, my Lord, the 20th defendant is in court today but in crutches to defend his absence at the last sitting.”
In view of the development, Justice Halilu adjourned the case to March 12 for the continuation of the hearing.
The NUPENG President had on Wednesday, while testifying against the defendants, narrated before the court how an attempt was made on his life and those of Afolabi and Egbon on November 1, 2023, declaring that he was afraid for his life.
According to him, while he narrowly escaped being lynched by the defendants, both Afolabi and Egbon were not that lucky as they were thoroughly dealt with by the defendants before the arrival of police personnel from Utako Police Station.
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