Admin l Thursday, December 16, 2021
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Justice Soladoye of a Special Offences Court in Ikeja has frowned at the absence of prosecution witnesses as well as cold attitude of state prosecution counsels in state matters, which always slow down the administration of Criminal justice.
Justice Soladoye said it is worrisome that state prosecution will file cases, but witnesses are not to be found, stressing that non availability of witnesses has been frustrating trials and allows defendants languish in Prison.
The judge raised this concerns during proceedings on Wednesday concerning the state and some defendants trial that suffers set back at the instance of state prosecutor.
Specifically, the court descended on the state prosecutor, a director in the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Olusola Sodeinde who gave series of excuses ranging from non availability of witnesses and absence of case files to proceed with trial.
“it’s injustice, witnesses have not been coming, you didn’t come with case File,” how can a farmer went to farm without cutlass” put yourself in their shoes. After arraignment, cases becomes stand still, you have not forged ahead, nobody is happy, defence is not happy, each adjournments are at the instances of the prosecutor, judgment it’s not one way traffic, it’s for victim, suspect and the society”
“You need to buckle up with your job or tender resignation, because you are not defending your salary as a director” she said.
About ten matters that were slated for trial today were aborted due to the cold warm attitude of the prosecutor.
