Nigeria: Dokubo Wants Marshall's Son Cross Examined

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force Alhaji Asari Dokubo has appealed to the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission to summon to the commission, Inye, son of late ANPP chieftain Marshall Harry, "so that he could be cross-examined" over an addendum to his (Inye's) memorandum castigating Asari and his family.

The request came, just as the commission adjourned, Wednesday, till 21st of July, 2008, following which the solicitors of Asari, Okwukwu & Okwukwu, through an application to the commission said "our client's right to fair will be violated if he is denied the opportunity to cross examine the witness."

Inye Harry had told Asari at the commission that he (Asari) was a perennial exams failure that had refused to pass any examination in every university he attended and therefore "was a university drop out".

Also, Dokubo's counsel said the character of their client's late father was badly rubbished when Inye said "Late Mr. Justice Mefford Goodhead was dismissed from Bench for corrupt practices"

Not done yet and spoiling for a face-off before reconciliation, Inye was quoted as saying that Asari was a candidate for a psychiatric asylum, because he "suffered from mental disorder and in 1981 he was kept in chains at No 25 Bende Street, Town, Port Harcourt."

Further to these, Dokubo was accused of being an economic saboteur, who indulged in practices that are inimical to the growth of the nation's economy, to the effect that "our client is into oil bunkering."

The counsel had being "a strong personality and voice in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria" and Dokubo being labeled as "the provost of the Marshall Harry Killers Association (MHKA)", he needed to clear himself.

Specifically, the letter titled "testimony/evidence of Inye marshall Harry on June 26, 2008, application to recall Mr. Inye Marshall Harry", state that "Inye was recalled by the commission for cross examination at the instance of some of the persons.

Of such persons, "particularly Mr. Ipalibo Harry whom the witness had earlier indicted/accused for the murder of his father Dr. Marshall Harry in his evidence before the commission."

As Mr. Inye Marshall Harry took the witness box he applied and his request was granted to read a prepared text which he claimed was an "addendum" to this earlier testimony.

It is important to state that neither our client nor his solicitors were put on notice that Mr. Inye Marshall Harry will give further evidence; particularly that he will submit a memorandum on the said June 26, 2008.

Second, our client who was present at the commission on the said day informed the commission that he will cross examine Inye through his counsel who was unavoidably absent.

It is our humble application that our client's right to fair hearing will be violated if he denied the opportunity to cross examine the witness.

It is in the interest of justice and in the spirit of truth and reconciliation that Mr. Inye Marshall Harry is recalled for cross examination with respect to his evidence/testimony on the June 26, 2008".

http://allafrica.com/

ad space for sale medtronic lead recall lawyer