The Sunday News
Lynnia Ndlovu Sunday News Reporter
FEUDING business partners in a case involving over $70 000 have agreed to settle the matter out of court leading to a trial that had been scheduled for Wednesday to be postponed. Nigerian businessman Oma Alphonsus Achinulo and Bulawayo-based N and S properties director Nicholas Masuku were embroiled in a feud involving $70 533, 34.However, before the start of the trial Achinulo’s lawyer advised the court that his client and Masuku had agreed to solve the matter outside criminal proceedings.
Mr Lison Ncube told Gwanda magistrate Mr Maphios Moyo that the parties wish to sit for a round table meeting to discuss the matter outside court.
“We are humbly requesting for the matter to be postponed. The reason being a request made by both parties that they go and sit in a meeting and talk about it outside the courts,” requested Mr Ncube. There are indications that once a deal is struck the matter will be withdrawn.
Achinulo’s business partner, Masuku, who is the complainant in this matter, took the witness stand and confirmed to the court that he had agreed to the meeting. Mr Moyo explained to Masuku that the matter was not being withdrawn but being postponed only until they come back to court with the resolutions arrived at during their meeting.
“We are not withdrawing the matter but we are giving you an opportunity to try and resolve the matter, if it fails then you will come back we continue with the trial,” explained Mr Moyo.
After listening to both parties the magistrate granted the application for postponement of the matter. “As per an agreement, the parties will be given an opportunity to talk out the issue; if they agree we will withdraw the matter,” he said.
