Court Defers Judgement In Mrs Okah’s Case

Cross section of directors at the Ministry of Information and Communications; Mr Paulius Nsirim (right), Mr Atlen Kio-Deghi (middle) and others during the burial ceremony of former Director, Radio Rivers, Kimanyieke Kpai, at Bodo City, last Saturday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

A Johannesburg Magistrates’ court on yesterday deferred judgment to November 30, in an inquiry being conducted on Azuka Okah over the ringing of her cell phone in court.

Azuka was attending the bail application hearing of her husband, who is facing terrorism related charges in connection with the October 1 bombings in Nigeria on October 21, when her cell phone rang during proceedings.

Magistrate Hein Louw had last week fixed judgment in the case for November 18 on the expectation that he would have delivered judgment in the bail application of her husband, Henry Okah before then.

The Magistrate had said that due to the closeness of Azuka to Henry, he chose to give judgment in her issue after dealing with her husband’s matter.

However, the court was unable to deliver its verdict in Henry’s bail bid at the last sitting on November 12 and has fixed it for November 19.

Rudi Klause, Azuka’s defence lawyer, had during the inquiry, told the court that she was under pressure and had actually placed her phone in silent mode until the court stood down the case.

He, therefore, apologised for the error which he said it was not intentional, though negligent.

Shaun Abrahams, the prosecution counsel had said the court should use its discretion in the matter as Klause had referred to it as a case of negligence.

The judge had said his court had never had such huge number of disruptions before and he had even overlooked some of them.

He said he understood the pressure Azuka was under but added he would give judgment in the matter.