A Federal Capital Territory high court has quashed an order of a Magistrate court presided over by Mohammed Abba- Bello on January 22, 2024, for the detention of the Medical Director of Alliance Hospital Abuja, Christopher Otabor, for 14 days, over alleged organ harvest.
Justice Muazu voided the order while ruling on a motion on notice between the Federal Government and Christopher Otabor.
Otabor had approached the FCT high court with a motion seeking for a judicial review of the order
His Counsel , Chidi Dimgba, argued that the Magistrate’s order was in excess of the court jurisdiction which violates section 294 of Administration of Criminal Justice ACT 2015.
Justice Hanza Muazu noted that the Magistrate failed to consider the issue of bail, and that an allegation of organ harvesting is a bailable offence.
After the proceedings Otabor’s counsel had a session with journalists, while the NAPTIP’s counsel was not available for comment.
The medical director of Alliance hospital Christopher Otabor had been previously detained for organ harvesting by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) following an order made by Magistrate court presided over by Mohammed Bello.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
