Illegal firearm: Court insists on speedy trial of Enugu High Chief

A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu on Tuesday said it would not entertain any delay in the ongoing trial of a High Chief in the State, Chief Christian Akpata.

The accused person Chief Christian Akpata, a native of Akamaoye community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state, is standing trial before the court for allegedly being in possession of illegal firearm.

Akpata was earlier arraigned before the court for being in illegal possession of a pump action gun with registration number P268884, an action said to be punishable under Sect. 27 (1) (a) (i) of Fire Arms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Earlier, a Police Officer, SP Benedict Ayalogu, who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, had told the court that a team from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit came on a search at the Enugu resident of the accused person and recovered a pump action gun and seven live ammunitions.

Ayalogu said upon interrogation, the accused person (Akpata) said the gun was licensed.

He, however, told the court that though the Akpata later brought a license, he suspected that the document was forged.

“The description of the gun in the license read ‘single barrel shot gun and not pump action recovered in his residence,’’ Ayalogu told the court.

Meanwhile, Ayalogu kept silent on one of the charges against Akpata, which bordered on alleged forgery of the signature of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Kieran Ugwuozor, on an irrevocable power of attorney dated Nov. 15, 2004 and purported same to be genuine.

When asked during cross-examination by the defense counsel, Mr Alex Alujiogu, why he avoided that part of the charge, SP Ayaklogu, said the prosecutor did not ask him to delve into that.

In her ruling, the Trial Judge, Justice Rosemary Dugbo-Oghoghorie, said in line with the new practice of the courts, criminal trials must be done day to day so as to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter for Wednesday, Nov. 14, and ordered the police to make their witnesses available.