Alleged kidney harvest reported on 4th September 2023, a close follow up, by Justice Equity and transparency group, a non government organization north Central zone has raised concerned over series of adjournments of the case of alleged kidney harvest, they decries persecution not prosecution, the group made this known in a press statement signed by the north Central zone coordinator Barr. Silas D Ibrahim, according to them:
They decried the rigor, stress they defendant went through and the risk involved under the current economic hardships leading to increase in transport fares and others after coming to court one thing will lead to adjournment the defendants have been traumatized on account of series adjournment they urged the court to take judicial notice of the series of adjournment which is a criminal matter in nature and to adjourned the matter for definite hearing or the matter be dismissed as the matter has been on for over 1 and half years now, according to them they have been following the case and have witnessed so many adjournments which is at the instant of the prosecution.
The group lamented that case between the people of plateau vs Noah Kekere and Yusuf Abdulahi which is being prosecuted by the ministry of Justice plateau state have suffered series of adjournments,
The case which is for continuation of hearing has taken almost two years and suffered over 9 adjournments, both in court 9 and 11 respectively, “After series of adjournments the case came up on 11/03/25. The prosecution counsel still requested for short adjournment and didn’t produce the ministry of health committee report requested and applied by the defendant lawyer, we as a group are for justice and fairness, we are advocate for good justice system and we commend the judiciary for the good work they have been doing “but we however frown at the way the case is taken time so to adjournments by the prosecution a case that has public interest keeps getting adjournments wasting the time of the court.
It could be recalled that the first bail granted to the accused the defendant now is on 10/10/23. By the CMC was revoked on 12/10/23 after much pressure on the magistrate After granting bail by both court 9 and 11 on 18/ 12/ 23, 3 days was set aside to carry out cross examinations, hearing and prosecution. in borh court starting from on the 18/01/24.
Summery of adjournment in court 9, had 8 appearances with four recorded adjournment the suppose three days hearing ( 19,20,21 on the month of january was adjourn to 19/03/24. Due to lack of witness and evidence as only two witnesses appeared ( the complainant husband and wife) and the prosecutor pleaded for adjournment due to poor preparedness from the complainant. on 19/03/ 24. The complainant and prosecutor asked for another adjournment to enable them study the ministry of health report submitted to them since November 2023.(After four months submissions) Up to this moment it hasn’t been tendered our concerns are not to jump into court issues but we have watched keenly the proceedings of the court and witnessed so many adjournments knowing fully well my Lords precious time has been wasted.
-on 28th / 05/ 24. Complainant did not come to court as only the prosecutor came to seek for another adjournment says the Anthony general AG requested to prosecute case himself, on 17/7/24. Adjourned to 15th October 2024 as no complainant and prosecutor was in court.On 21/11/24. No sitting bcos the judge attend conference.and adjourn to 18/02/25.
During all this adjournment the complainant did not appear for ones since january 2024, those are all the happenings in court 9 and in court 11 has the total of 6 adjournment and three prosecutor absences. Complainant only appeared twice since 2023.
Hearing in court 11.commeced on 08/02/24.it was adjourn because of lack of information to correctional center to produce a culprit. Hence adjourn to 21/03/ 24, 21/03/24, the absent of both complainant and prosecutor led to the . adjournment to 7/05/24, and 7/05/24 the case was adjourned because of ministry of health report they received since September 2023 they asked for more time to study it before tendering so the case was adjourned to 4/6/24 and still no lawyer and prosecutor came.
The case suffered yet another adjournment to 8/9/24 because the arthony general travelled.
13/02/25. The prosecutor still asked for adjournment because of the AG request. This provoked the judge to adjourn sine dai to when they are ready.
On the 11/03/25. They requested for short adjournment and refused to produce the ministry of health committee report requested and applied by the defendant lawyer (counsel) the medical team report not tendered
