Godwin Tsa, Abuja
An Abuja Magistrate Court sitting in Zuba, on Tuesday admitted two discs from a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage and Certificate of Compliance as evidence in the trial of Senator Elisha Abbo.
Senator Abbo was on July 8, 2019, charged by the Police for offences bordering on alleged criminal force and assault which is contrary to section 263 and 264 of penal code law.
In addimiting the electronic generated evidence, Magistrate Abdullahi Illelah held that the exhibits were relevant and therefore admissible in law.
”It is left to the court to determine if a particular document or exhibit tendered before it complies with requirement of the law or not.
“The court hereby admits the statements of Sen. Elisha Abbo and medical report which the nominal complainant obtained from Mega EyeSight as exhibits in the trial,” he held.
Meanwhile, llelah has adjourned the matter until Janaury 9, 2020 for the continuation of hearing while holding that the bail granted to Abbo continues on the same terms and conditions.
The prosecution counsel, Mr James Idachaba tendered the exhibits through the second prosecution witness ASP Mary Daniel.
The witness told the court that she was attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), FCT Police Command and was the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in the case against the defendant (Sen. Abbo).
Daniel alleged that on May 14, the case criminal force and assault contrary to section 262, 263 and 264 of the Penal Code Law was reported at Maitama Divisional Station by the nominal complainant Ms Anyata Wormate.
She added that the case was transferred to the FCT Police Command and it was assigned to her to investigate, subsequently she went to the scene of the crime at Pleasure Chest Shop, FA45, Banex Plaza.
According to her, the shop was then locked and one Mr Onyekachi Chukwu told me that the owner of the shop travelled out of Abuja.
On July 3, invitation letter was sent to the nominal complainant and the defendant through the Clerk of the National Assembly.
“On July 4, voluntary explanatory statement was obtained from the nominal complainant and the defendant also provides his statement under caution and later the defendant was later granted bail on the same day,’’ she said.