By Musa Paul Feika
Magistrate Hadiru Daboh, who presides over at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No.3, has instructed the police prosecutor, Sergeant Magdalene Mbalu George, to arrest Oga Michael (Valentine Azadike), and bring him to court on the next adjourned date. This is because the accused failed to make himself available in court.
According to Magistrate Hadiru Daboh, he granted the accused bail and ordered him to always avail himself in court till the matter comes to its logical conclusion.
The forty two (42) years old is a Nigerian national, and also resident of No. 34 Upper Allen Town, Orgu in Freetown.
The counsel for the complainant, Musa M. Conteh, told the bench that, when the police prosecutor went to the residence of the accused to enforce his arrest, the accused escaped.
In addendum, Madam George intimated the court that, when she went to the accused`s residence, in order to get him arrested, the wife of the accused, whose name was not mentioned, said she could not recall his whereabouts.
As a result, Madam George applied for a search warrant to get Oga apprehended. Her application was granted by the presiding magistrate. Magistrate Daboh further described such an action a contempt of court.
The accused is arraigned before the court on one count of larceny, an offence which is contrary to Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The police stated that Oga Michael, on the 17th December, 2020 at Upper Allen Town, in Freetown, stole one thousand, two hundred cement blocks, valued at twenty four million Leones (Le24,000,000), properties belonging to Salifu Kamara, who is also the complainant.
The matter was adjourned to 23rd March, 2021.