Magistrate’s absence stalls trial of suspects who assaulted photojournalist

The presiding judge is still on leave.

 

The trial of the staff of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, mortuary who assaulted a photojournalist has been adjourned to December 13.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the absence of E.O Ogunkanmi, the presiding magistrate, who is still on leave, made the court adjourn the trial.

At the last sitting on October 4, the court was also forced to adjourn due to a heavy rainfall and absence of electricity in the court room.

Bayo Ogunsola, a director at TOS Funerals, the private firm running the LASUTH mortuary, along with one Idowu, attacked Ben Uwalaka of Leadership Newspapers.

Police say Mr. Idowu, who allegedly broke a bottle on Mr. Uwalaka’s skull, could not be arrested since he was not a staff of the mortuary and therefore would be difficult to track down.

Physical injuries were inflicted on Mr. Uwalaka after they accused him of taking photos of the dead victims of the Dana Air mishap.

The photojournalist’s Nikon camera estimated to cost about N700 thousand was also destroyed during the attack.

The incident, which happened on August 9, attracted widespread outrage and condemnation, with the Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists staging a protest to demand the prosecution of the culprits.