There was drama at the Ado Ekiti Customary Court on Tuesday when a trader, Odims Frank, escaped imprisonment for contempt of court.
Frank, who filed a petition at the court against Adenike Aarin, walked out on the court when proceedings had not been concluded.
His behaviour incurred the wrath of court president, Joseph Ogunsemi, who ordered the police officer attached to the court to go out and arrest the petitioner.
When Frank realized the gravity of the offence he committed, he first went on his knees before he lied down flat on his belly, pleading for mercy from the court president.
Counsel to the defendant, Miss E.E. Iseh, had earlier asked for a new date to apply for records of proceedings of the last sitting to enable her cross-examine the petitioner.
The rude behaviour of Frank who told the court that he is a trader at New Garage, Ado Ekiti, drew the ire of the magistrate who upbraided him for his contemptuous action.
Ogunsemi said: “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 the court and not do what you like in the market.
“You are warned for the last time or have you taken ‘kain-kain’ this morning.”
Frank replied: “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.”
Ogunsemi concluded: “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.”
The court president subsequently adjourned the case to August 31 for further hearing.
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