Magistrate court issues bench warrant for the arrest of self-installed king in Delta

The Chief Magistrate Court, Ibusa, Delta State on Thursday 7th January,  2021 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of one Mr. Reuben Raleigh Ogode who is facing trial for unlawfully installing and parading himself as a traditional ruler within Ughievwen Kingdom contrary to the Traditional Rulers, Council and Chiefs’ law of Delta State.

The defendant who was initially charged to the Magistrate Court, Otu Jeremi before the charge was transferred to Chief Magistrate Court, Ibusa, failed to appear before the court on the return date even when his counsel was in Court.

The Court obliged the Counsel to defendant an adjournment on the ground of alleged ill health of the Defendant with an order that the Counsel to the defendant should take the Registrar of the Court to the hospital bed to sight the Defendant which  Court order the Defendant or his counsel failed to comply with.

 At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the Prosecutor of the case, in view of the absence of the Defendant in court and lack of presentation of medical certificate of further ill health of being hospitalized applied to the Court for the  issuance of a bench warrant for the arrest of the Defendant and to bring him before the Court to face his trial.

 The application was granted by the court in view of any cogent reasons for the absence of the defendant.

The Court has adjourned the matter to 18/1/2021 for further hearing.