By Sylvia Etta
Reprieve has come the way of the former Spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barrister Venatius Ikem as the High Court of Cross River State sitting in Calabar has granted a stay of action on the order of arrest issued against Ikem by Chief Magistrate E.E. Edodi on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.
The Commissioner of Police in Cross River State had applied to the Chief Magistrate that a warrant of arrest be issued against Barrister Ikem on allegations of failure to honor court summons in Charge No. MC/9C/2016 between the Commissioner of Police vs Venatius Ikem.
Ikem’s lawyer, Barrister Utum Eteng, moved on to challenge the warrant of arrest and the proceedings in the magistrate court that led to the issuance of the order to arrest him in Suit No. HC/MSC 35/2016.
The High Court presided by His Lordship, Justice Obojor Ogar, on the 3rd of March granted the prayer sought by the Applicant against the Chief Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police who are 1st and 2nd Respondents in the suit.
According to the order which was obtained by CrossRiverWatch:
1. Leave is hereby granted for the applicant to apply for certiorari to bring forward the proceedings of Chief Magistrate E.E. Edodi in Charge No. MC/9C/2016 of the 12th and 13th of January, 2016 and in particular the subpoena and warrant of arrest on the Applicant issued from the same court, for the purpose of their being quashed.
2. The leave so granted shall operate as a stay of all actions in respect of the Charge (i.e. MC/9C/2016) pending the determination of the substantive application.
3. The return date for the application for certiorari which shall be by way of motion on notice shall be the 17th of March, 2016.
Leave feedback about this