Absence of interpreter stalls trial of Portuguese

The absence of an interpreter yesterday again stalled the trial of a Portuguese woman, Roseangela Goncalves, before a Federal High Court, Lagos..

Gonclaves, 36, is charged along with Christopher Olua, 38, on a two-count charge of dealing on a restricted narcotic, cocaine.

They had both pleaded not guilty to the charge but the Judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, ordered the remand of Gonglaves at the Kirikiri Prisons, following an application for remand by the prosecutor, Frank Dinneys.

The second accused was, however, granted bail in the sum of N5 million naira with two sureties in like sum.

When the case was called yesterday, the court could not proceed with the trial of the accused, as defence counsel informed the court that there was no interpreter for the accused.

This prompted the judge to again adjourn the suit to March 25 for trial, while he ordered the prosecution to make efforts to secure an interpreter from the Portuguese Embassy. The accused were first arraigned in November 2013.

At the last adjourned date on January 23, the court also adjourned the suit, due to lack of an interpreter. Earlier, the prosecutor told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 21, 2013. He said the accused were apprehended by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the arrival hall of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, with about two kilograms of cocaine.

He told the court that the accused conspired with one Ikechukwu, who is now at large, to import the substance.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 11 (a) and 14 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation 2004. ( NAN)