Magistrate Fines Witnesses For Non Appearance In Court

A Senior Magistrate in Enugu, Mrs E.A. Edeani, on Wednesday fined five prosecution witnesses N20,000 each for failing to appear in court for the prosecution of their case.

This followed the arraignment of two middle-aged men, Sunday Aneke and Sunday Nnaji, for alleged involvement in armed robbery at Star Palace Hotel, Coal Camp, Enugu.

The magistrate wondered why none of the witnesses appeared in the court considering their importance to the prosecution.

She said the accused would remain in prison and advised the prosecutor to take the matter to a court of higher jurisdiction.

The accused are standing trial on a six-count charge of robbery, while they were caught with a gun, matchet and axe during the operation in the hotel on Mission Road, Coal Camp, Enugu.

The duo were also accused of robbing Ejiofor Udeh, Oluchi Ejiofor, Onyinyechi Mba, Onyekachi Ekwe and Emeka Eze of their wallets, a laptop, handsets and cash, all valued at N107,500.

The police prosecutor, Mrs Emmanuel Aguegbo, earlier told the court that the witnesses could not appear because some of them went to hospital for treatment.

The senior magistrate adjourned the matter indefinitely.