Alleged Incitement: Odinkalu Demands Case Be Held in Open Court

A former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Dr Chidi Odinkalu has demanded that the case of inciting disturbance and furnishing false information filed against him by the Kaduna State Government be heard in open court.

His counsel, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason made the request after observing that proceeding in the case has been held in chambers since the case commenced.

Odinkalu is also asking the court to rule on his objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to conduct the trial.

At the last hearing of the case last Thursday, Chief Magistrate Ibrahim Musa ruled that the state, having merely filed a counter-affidavit, had a right to respond on points of law.

Before the ruling, counsel to Odinkalu had drawn the Chief Magistrate’s attention to the fact that the case was not listed in the cause list. However, the magistrate said that wasn’t a problem because his ruling was ready.