A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the Director of Legal Services, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to appear before it in connection with the trial of two Chinese nationals, charged with importing substandard tires into the country.
The judge, Mojisola Olatoregun, handed down the order following a ruling that the prosecution of the defendants, arraigned on allegations of importation of fake tyres into the country, was incompetent.
READ ALSO : I need access to herbal medicine, Nyame says, begs court for bail
The accused — Tao Shen, 36, and Jing Yau, 22 — were charged alongside a Nigerian, Chinedu Madubuike, and two companies, Sino Nigeria Import and Export Ltd, and Nedeca International Ltd.
At the resumed trial of the case on Wednesday, Babatunde Alajogun, appeared for the prosecution and began the examination-in-chief of the prosecutions’ third witness (PW3).
The PW3, Sylvester Aigbe, told the court that he was the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) who recovered the substandard tires and iron rods from the defendants’ warehouse.
According to Mr Aigbe, the tires which came in different sizes were tucked in bigger ones and in batches.
Mr Alajogun sought to tender the tires and the iron rod as exhibits, but when the court asked for the number of tires recovered, he and the witness became embroiled in an argument.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the argument went on for about three minutes before the court interjected and delivered a short ruling.
“It is obvious you are not capable of prosecuting this case, you are either incompetent or corrupt.
“How can a prosecutor not (have) seen the exhibit in his case or met the witness before the case is called.
“The Director of Legal Services of your organisation must appear before this court before this case can proceed,” Mr Olatoregun
ruled.
Consequently, she adjourned the case until September 26 for continuation of trial.
The accused were alleged to have committed the offences sometime in February by conspiring to import tires that did not meet the relevant Nigerian standards.
They were also alleged to have tucked various sizes of tires into one, making them unfit for their purpose and most likely to endanger human life.
The defendants were also accused of failing to furnish the returns on the conditions of the imported tires as required by law.
The offences contravene Sections 320 and 510 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and Sections 26 and 32 of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
READ ALSO : Plateau killings: Saraki arrives Jos, meets with Gov. Lalong
Are you an artiste? Do you want your music to go viral and reach a large number of audience? Promote your music and Submit your story on Ujuayalogusblog.com by clicking here. For Advert Inquiries Tel/+44(0)7590363984 Subscribe to Ujuayalogusblog.com
For More: Visit Us at Uju Ayalogu's Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment