Court defers judgment in Okah’s wife’s case

A Johannesburg Magistrate’s court in South Africa on Thursday deferred judgment to November 30, in an inquiry being conducted on Azuka Okah over the ringing of her cell phone in court during proceeding, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Azuka was attending the bail application hearing of her husband, who is facing terrorism charges in connection with the Independence Day bombings in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 21, when her cell phone rang during proceedings.

Magistrate Hein Louw had last week fixed judgment in the case for November 18 on the expectation that he would have delivered judgment in the bail application of her husband, Henry Okah.

The Magistrate had said that due to the closeness of Azuka to Henry, he chose to give judgment in her case after dealing with her husband’s matter.

However, the court was unable to deliver its verdict in Henry’s bail bid at the last sitting on November 12 and has fixed it for November 19 (today).

Rudi Klause, Azuka’s defence lawyer had, during the inquiry, told the court that the womanwas under pressure and had actually placed her phone in silent mode until the court stood down the case.

He, therefore, apologised for the error which he said was not intentional, though negligent.

The prosecution counsel, Shaun Abrahams, had said the court should use its discretion in the matter as Klause had referred to it as a case of negligence.

The judge said he understood the pressure on Azuka but added he would give judgment in the matter.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011191364126