NAN-H-48
Penalties
Abuja, March 14, 2017 (NAN) Some legal practitioners in Abuja have called for strict implementation of penalties on “subpoena’’ offenders to forestall the increasing rate of impunity in the courts.
The Lawyers made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Subpoena is a summon issued by a court to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding or the submission of evidence, as records or document before a court.
A person or institution that receives a subpoena but does not comply with its terms may be subject to civil or criminal penalties such as a fine or jail term.
The lawyers told NAN that deliberate disregard for subpoena injunctions ought to be treated duly as contempt of court by judges.
Mr Idah Hassan decried the situation where the judiciary was being taken for granted by some public institutions that rendered certain excuses in court to play down the subpoenas served on them.
“Court orders are still not obeyed by some institutions and highly placed individuals in this country.
“A subpoena is an order of the court and should not be taken lightly but we still see instances where government agencies blatantly refuse to obey such orders.
“The judges ought to punish such offenders to serve as a deterrent to others; only then will the judiciary be taken seriously,’’ Hassan said.
Mrs Bilikisu Ndako said several cases had been delayed and justice yet to be served, because certain documents and witnesses needed to prove cases were yet to be presented.
Ndako urged heads of courts not to treat defaulters with kid gloves but implement the penalties due to such acts in court.
“Disobedience of the subpoena writ is punishable; courts should not welcome excuses and it should not be treated with levity.
“When an order of court is given, it should be carried out and obeyed, not partially, that is the law,’’ she said. (NAN)
MUK/DOR/EEE
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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Ese E. Ekama