THE trial of Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Olorunwa Rafiu and 10 others, was stalled yesterday at the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court following a disagreement between the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Police over who should prosecute the matter.
Rafiu and the others were arraigned on May 17 on an eight-count charge of alleged unlawful assembly, bearing of firearms and offensive weapons, obstruction, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
When the matter came up for hearing, the DPP in Lagos, represented by Mrs. Bukola Akanni, informed the court presided over by Magistrate A.O. Isaac that the state had taken over the matter, adding that after the arraignment, the former Magistrate, Mrs. Idowu Olatokun, had ruled that the Police should stay off the case.
She said Section 211 (b) of the 1999 Constitution empowers the Attorney-General to take over any criminal matter at any time.
However, Police counsel, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, while recognising the authority of the attorney general, questioned the rationale of the DPP to drop the charges against Akintayo, who she said, was very ill.
The matter was adjourned till September 28, 2011, for continuation of trial.
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Disagreement stalls Lagos NURTW officials’ trial