Alleged Rights Violation: Coca-Cola, NBC challenge charge against them

ABUJA —Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, its Managing Director, Mr Adeola Adetunji, Nigerian Bottling Company and its Managing Director, Mr. Ben Langat, have challenged the mandate given to Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, to prosecute them for alleged violation of the Consumers Protection Council Act.

They are also challenging the competence of the charge and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain same.

At the resumed sitting on the matter yesterday, Justice Evoh Chukwu queried why the accused persons were not present in court.

Justice Chukwu, who described their absence as a sign of disrespect to the court, insisted that they must be present before he would hear their preliminary objections.,

The judge noted that since his order to serve the charge on the accused persons by pasting the charges in front of their offices has been duly complied with by the Federal Government, "they must appear before me even if they don’t enter the dock."

Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Gbolahan Elias, SAN and Oluseye Opasanya, SAN, argued that their clients needed not be in court since they were challenging both the mandate to prosecute the case and the competence of the charge.

On his part, the prosecutor, Chief Ojo, SAN, urged the court to issue a bench warrant against the accused persons to compel their attendance.