Peace Corps boss, Akoh asks court to halt his trial

National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akoh, has urged the Federal High Court, Abuja, to halt his trial.

His request followed the refusal of the police to unseal the headquarters of the corps, as ordered by the court.

Akoh is being prosecuted by the Nigerian Police for alleged money laundering.

In a motion on notice argued by his counsel yesterday, Mr. John Ochogwu, the Peace Corps boss claimed that the police, have lost the right to be heard under the law, having been guilty of contempt by refusing to obey court order.

Supported with 16-paragraph affidavits, the defendant in his motion, drew attention of the court to its decision of January 16, where the police was ordered to immediately vacate the premises of the PCN, and allow the defendant unfettered access to the office.

He stated that since the order was made and served on the police, they have continued to treat it with levity by deliberately refusing to comply with it.

The defendant further claimed that the action of the police was capable of truncating democracy and the rule of law.

The defendant claimed that he had been disadvantaged in preparing for his defense in the 13-count charges against him, as the police have seized all the documents he needed.

He also drew the attention of the court to Section 36(6) of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the court to bar a party from being heard by a court when he is in contempt of the court.

But counsel to the complainant, Mr. Andrew Don-Oboh, urged the court to refuse the defendant’s prayer as contained in his motion on notice.

Citing Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, he said the law did not permit a stay of proceedings in a criminal matter, and pleaded with the judge not to entertain the motion.

Justice Tsoho fixed June 11 for ruling on the application.

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Ogun East district, Buruji Kashamu, has urged the Supreme Court to nullify the appellate court’s judgment on his extradition.

The court gave the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) the nod to begin the extraction process against him to the United State of America (USA) to face drug-related charges.

In a statement yesterday, Kashamu said his detractors deliberately influenced the appellate court’s judgment.

“It is unfortunate that these persons have chosen to channel their energies towards blackmailing the AGF to punish an innocent citizen, and achieve a personal vendetta against someone who is seen as their political foe,” he said.