An Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan on Tuesday summoned the medical doctor in Agodi Custodian centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service to appear before it tomorrow (Wednesday) over a matter that bothers on the health status of a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURYW) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi also known as Auxiliary.
The hearing of the case involving Auxiliary was stalled on Tuesday due to his absence when the case came up in Court.
It was gathered although the former Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) was earlier in Court, he could not attend his session due to alleged health related issues.
Recall that the matter was adjourned to January 20 and 21 by the trial Judge, Justice Adetujoye, Presiding over Court 11, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan.
It was gathered that the Defendant had arrived the court earlier, looking fine and okay as other cases were been heard.
The court rose for a few minutes before Auxiliary’s case was to come up.
However, while waiting for the court to resume, things took a different turn as it was noticed that the Correctional Centre officers who brought him in the morning and some people gathered around him with snippets filtering around that the former PMS boss was not feeling too well.
A source, who was privy to the incident, told The Nation: “The matter was slated for 11AM but after some court sessions, the Court rose and came back around 12pm. However, before the Judge would resume into the session, we noticed that the Correctional Centre officers who brought him in the morning and some people gathered around him and we heard them saying Auxiliary is not feeling too well.
“Some people were pouring water on his head while some others were applying ‘aboniki’ balm on his legs. What we noticed was that, after some time, the Correctional Centre officers called their boss at Agodi, they brought their vehicle and he was assisted by officials of Correctional service, his children and friends and he was taken out of the court.
“But, what we were told was that, when he got outside, he actually walked with his legs to the car. It was shocking.”
It was further gathered temper rose when the Judge came into the court and Defence (Auxiliary’s) Counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN said he learnt that Auxiliary was sick.
Surprised, the Judge was said to have asked the Prosecutor if they were aware of the development.
Those who appeared for the State were O.S Tella, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, O.A Bolarinwa Senior State Counsel and F.F Gbadamosi.
Responding, the Lead Prosecutor, O.S. Tella told the Judge what she knew about the whole incident that transpired in the open court.
The situation angered the Presiding judge who said even if they would take him (Auxiliary) out of the court, he was supposed to be told.
The Court insisted that even if at all he (Auxiliary) was sick, one of the officials of the NCoS should have come to inform him of the real position of things.
In their separate submissions before the court, the State Counsel and Defence Counsel could not give a tangible explanation of what actually happened, further angering the judge.
Ruling, the Court adjourned the matter till tomorrow (Wednesday), noting that, by then the true situation about his health status would have been ascertained.
The Court said if the Defendant was confirmed to be sick, the Court would pick another date for hearing of the matter.
