Court adjourns hearing of embattled activist, Oyama’s case to Feb 14, 2025

From, Ene Asuquo, Calabar

Magistrate Court 7,  sitting in the Calabar judicial division, adjourned cases involving Odey Oyama and four others to February 14 and 27, 2025 respectively.

Adjourning the matter, Magistrate Okoho Bassey asked the Prosecutor to provide evidence in case No MC/ 20C/2025 and MC/21C/2025 before the next court hearings.

The embattled activist was arrested alongside four others at his home town in Ikom, January 14, 2025 by the Police on the charge of what they described as promoting native war in Effi community in Ikom, which though could not be proven.

The court had in January, 23, 2025 granted bail to the defendant and  four others, namely; Alobi Ofuka, Ogbeshi Opene, Samuel Agbor and Konye Eka. 

It would be recalled that in recent times, Oyama has been engaged in a fierce campaign against Chinese business concerns working with indigenous collaborators who are logging the Effi Rainforest, a trend that has resulted in massive deforestation, dissipation of wildlife and loss of biodiversity. 

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, OU Ubi had pleaded with the court to transfer the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) citing section 372 of Cross River State Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

In his argument, the Defense Counsel, Ntufam, Sunny Mgbe had asked the court to strike out the case giving that the case lacks merit for lack of evidence against the accused persons.