Ekiti trader prostrates in court to escape sentence

A trader  at the New Garage, Ado Ekiti,, Odims Frank,went flat tommy at an Ado Ekiti Customary court  earlier this week,begging for leniency after he was slammed with  contempt of court.

Frank had  filed a petition at the court against  one Adenike Aarin,but  walked out of

the court midway into the  proceeding.

The  court president Joseph Ogunsemi did not take kindly to Frank’s action, and  directed a police officer attached to the court to get the man arrested.

Back inside the court and told what offence he had committed, Frank  first went

on his knees before prostrating to plead for leniency.

“My lord, I am very sorry sir, please have mercy on me, I am very sorry. I will never do that again, I respect this court, kindly pardon me my lord,” he said.

Mr .Ogunsemi upbraided him for his behaviour,saying: : “Is this the way you behave to your customers? This is a court of law, it is not a marketplace and you must comport yourself well in  court and not do what you like .

“You are warned for the last time or have you taken ‘kain-kain’ this morning?

“Don’t repeat that again.Rudeness to a judge is rudeness to all judges and magistrates in Nigeria.

“If you do that again, that will be counted against you and the consequences will be terrible for you.You are pardoned.”

Prior to Frank’s drama,counsel to the defendant, Miss E.E. Iseh, had r asked for a new date

to apply for records of proceedings of the last sitting to enable her cross-examine the petitioner.

The court president subsequently adjourned the case to August 31 for further hearing.