SUBSTANDARD TYRES: LANGUAGE BARRIER STALLS TRIAL OF CHINESE NATIONALS

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Admin l Wednesday, March 08, 2017

IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – Inability to understand Chinese language stalled the hearing of the case brought against two Chinese nationals who have been charged for importing substandard tyres into Nigeria.




Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) had charged Taolung Shen (36) and Xu Jimg Yao (22) with four counts of importation of sub-standard tyres. Defence counsel Victor Opara told the court that the second defendant neither speaks nor understands Chinese. “I normally discuss with them by means of an interpreter,” he said.

Presiding justice, Judge Mojisola Olatoregun inquired from Prosecution counsel, Babatunde Alajogun why he did not arrange for an interpreter but the lawyer said he assumed the defendants could speak English because he once heard Shen speak English.
“It was at your request that we’re that we took the case today because you said they had been in custody, so why are you not ready? Did you ask if they could speak English? Are you not supposed to ask?”

“They are expected to understand the charge. They are expected to follow the proceedings. That’s when you would have fulfilled the legal requirements.” When Alajogun applied that the accused be remanded in prison pending when an interpreter is brought, the judge refused.


“I will not. They will go back to where they came from. I don’t persecute people here,” he said.
Opera promised to bring an interpreter from the Chinese consulate. “I undertake to produce an acceptable interpreter from the Consulate within 24 hours,” he said.

The defendants were charged along with a Nigerian, Chinedu Madubuike and two companies – Sino Nigeria Import and Export Ltd and Nedeca International Limited.

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