BY Amayindi Yakubu
A Delta State High Court presided over by Justice M. Obi has insisted on the continuation of hearing on a land dispute case between the State and Okolo Anthony until necessary procedures of the law have been dully followed by parties involved before their out-of-court settlement agreement would be honoured.
The defence counsel told the court that they have agreed with the prosecution counsel to settle out of court. However, the judge said proceedings would continue still, the parties filed a formal terms-of-agreement before the court to complete the necessary steps required by law before the court would attend to their settlement plan.
The presiding Judge told the court clerk to swear-in the witness in the case Mr. Edomeka Emmanuel who gave his testimony before the court and was cross-examined by the defence counsel.
The defence lawyer asked the witness if the accused was in the disputed land when armed men came shooting sporadically at the fence which he also said No. The witness said he was informed by his workers who were working in the site when the shooting incident happened.
However, the prosecuting counsel did not ask the witness any questions when the judge asked if she had questions for the witness. Officer Titus Ayuba, the investigating police officer who is the second witness was absent in court during the hearing.
The judge adjourned the matter to March 2, 2026 for hearing, and said that if the parties formalise their settlement before that date, the court will then attend to the settlement agreement.
