#Endbadgovernance: Court orders arrest of two abscond defendants, sureties over assault on lawyer, Ogedegbe Esq

By Stephen Asaba-ase

A Magistrate court in Delta State has ordered the arrest of two absent defendants and their sureties in a criminal case involving the attack on human rights lawyer Barrister Omes Ogedegbe and another lawyer on August 1, 2024. The court was unable to proceed with the hearing due to the defendants’ absence.

The prosecution requested the warrant for the arrest of the absent defendants and their sureties, who are required to appear in court on October 4, 2024. This development comes despite the parties exploring a settlement, as informed by Chief Victor Otomiewo, the lawyer representing the attacked lawyer.

In Nigeria, sureties play a crucial role in bail administration, as outlined in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). If a defendant fails to appear, the court may order the re-arrest of the accused person and require the sureties to pay the bail amount. The sureties must be ordinarily resident in the court’s jurisdiction and meet specific qualifications.