A magistrate court sitting in Apapa has struck out the
case that was instituted by ENL Terminals; one of the terminal operators in Lagos ports against nine of its ex-employees. Ruling on the application that was sought by the defendants lawyer, Mr O. Abali, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.A Okunuga of the Apapa Magistrate court One ruled recently that the eight defendants who had been standing trial since October 2008 be set free for lack of diligent prosecution.
The management of ENL had dragged the eight employees to the court for alleged destruction of properties worth about N800Million. This led to their detention at the Kirikiri prison since October 20, 2008 form where they were granted bail about five months later.
Shipping Position Weekly confirmed that when case was mentioned on April 20, 2009, neither the witnesses nor lawyers to ENL were in court, a development which prompted the Magistrate to strike out the case. A copy of the court ruling was obtained by our correspondent.
Sources hinted that the case which was filed as suit number A/31/2008 between the Commissioner of Police versus Salihu Sule and seven others has suffered several set backs since it was instituted in 2008.
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