‘Attempted murder’: Defendant’s absence stalls trial of 20 ex-tanker drivers’ leaders 

The trial of 20 former leaders of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) was stalled on Wednesday due to the absence of one defendant in court.

The defendants, including Lucky Osesua, former PTD national chairman, are facing trial before a high court of the federal capital territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja.

They are charged with attempted murder, breach of peace, and assault in a case marked FCT/HC/CR/042/2023.

The prosecution alleges that the defendants attacked Williams Akporeha, the NUPENG national president; the union’s secretary-general Olawale Afolabi; and the new PTD national chairman, Augustine Egbon, “putting their lives at risk”.

At the hearing on Wednesday, David Kaswe, the prosecution lawyer, informed the court that the 19th defendant, Adamu Ibrahim, was absent.

Defence counsel, Christopher Oshemegie, explained that Ibrahim is being held at the Calabar Correctional Centre in Cross River state due to a personal issue.

However, Kaswe countered, revealing that Ibrahim was in custody over allegations of impregnating his teenage daughter.

Despite Ibrahim’s absence, Kaswe urged the court to proceed with the trial, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which allows the trial to continue even if a defendant is unavailable.

Yusuf Halilu, the presiding judge, noted that Ibrahim was present at the last court sitting, adding that this was the first time the court was hearing about his alleged crime in Calabar.

He ruled that in the interest of justice, Ibrahim should be given one last opportunity to appear in court, warning that the trial would proceed without him if he failed to do so.

Following an agreement between both parties, the case was adjourned to May 19 for a definite hearing.

On January 27, the case could not proceed because the second prosecution witness, Akporeha, NUPENG president, was unavailable due to a flight delay caused by bad weather.

During his earlier testimony on October 23, 2024, Akporeha had told the court how he narrowly escaped being lynched by the defendants, while Afolabi and Egbon were brutally attacked before the police intervened.