Leadership (Abuja)
George Agba
15 November 2008
Abuja — An Abuja Magistrate's Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a former, Chief of Air Staff, AVM Ibrahim Alfa as a result of his refusal to appear in court and face trial over allegations bordering on illegal demolition of a petrol filling station belonging to one Kamisu Ahmed.
The court, accordingly revoked an earlier bail he granted to Alfa and ordered that his surety should appear in court and show cause as to why he will not forfeit the bond he entered into as surety to the accused person.
Alfa was arraigned together with Joshua Ikhian, Michael Ihejirika and Jibrin Nasir while six others were said to be at large. Police first information report before court had accused them of threatening to kill the filling station's owner.
Based on this, they were charged for conspiracy, assault and trespass, contrary to sections 348, 397, 327 and 287 of the penal code.
They were granted bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties in like sum, one of which must be a civil servant of not less than grade level 17 and a resident of Abuja.
The prosecution counsel told the court that the first accused person, Alfa was not in court and his surety was nowhere to be found to indicate his whereabouts.
He said, "It will hinder our progress today because of the absence of the first accused. I remember there was an application that the first accused was travelling for treatment though there was no backing to that, but until today, there is no indication whether he travelled or not."
In his ruling, the magistrate said, "The bail of the first accused person is hereby revoked and bench warrant issued against him and summon to his surety to show cause why he will not forfeit the bond he entered into."
The matter was consequently adjourned to November 17, 2008 for trial.
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