By our correspondent
After his two times unlawful detention and prison remand by Police in Kaduna state, the court trial of Kaduna investigative Journalist, Mr. Idibia Gabriel, has recorded another dramatic setback.
Journalist Idibia, Kaduna correspondent of Daybreak Newspapers, is standing trial over his investigative news report on Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency’s alleged poor organization of 2023 Hajj exercise, under Yusuf Yakubu led régime as Executive Secretary, now heading Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA).
The trial which was slated for Wednesday 13th March 2024 for definite hearing at Magistrate court 2 Daura road Kaduna, could not hold due to absent of the Magistrate for the fourth times.
Our correspondent reported that the claimant prosecutor who gave his name as Barr. Beatrice, first told the respondent journalist that the
Judge will not sit on that day, and should call his lawyer, Barr. JS Kure to take a new date.
The registry staff corroborated what the prosecutor said and asked the respondent journalist to take a new date, saying the judge will not sit on that day, but without given any reason for his absenteeism.
However, when asked for reasons for the Magistrate absent in court again, the registry staff (Name withheld), later told our correspondent that the judge promised coming by 10:30, but they were not so sure if he’ll keep to the time and promised.
“Why the lie inside court promises”, the journalist asked the registry who could not provide any answer.
However, Counsel to the journalist, Barr. JS Kure, also decried frustration when asked on the essence of the Magistrate court Judges perpetual absent in court during his case scheduled.
The journalist is being prosecuted on trump-up charges bothering on alleged attempted instigation of religious crises in the state, insult, intimidation and character defamation, by commissioner of police, Kaduna state command.
Mr. Idibia was arrested by “Operation Yaki” Police operative in September 2023 and detained two times over the news presort, based on lies supplied police by the Pilgrims Agency ES.
He also decried frustration of his trial due to inability of the prosecutors to provide material evidence to back up their allegation as requested by motion brought by his counsel, using lies of perpetual absent of the Magistrate without any reason.
