The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has issued a bench warrant against Congolese musician Koffi Olomide to be retained upon his arrest whenever he comes to Zambia.

Koffi, whose real names are Antoine Christopher Agpepa Mumba, is alleged to have assaulted photo-journalist Jean Nepomuscene Ndayisenga, commonly known as Mandela on December 28, 2012 at Taj Pamodzi Hotel during a concert.

He is alleged to have kicked Ndayisenga in the face as he tried to take photographs of the musician after a live performance at the hotel.

When the matter came up before magistrate Mwandu Sakala, Thursday, the complainant, Mandela, informed the court that he had had difficulties accessing Koffi as he was living in a foreign country.

He added that Zambia did not have a law that required a private prosecution to be discontinued through a nolle prosequi.

Mandela asked the court to use her discretion to ensure that the due course of the law was done in the matter.

In her ruling, magistrate Sakala issued a bench warrant against Koffi and said for as long as Koffi remained at large, the bench warrant would remain in force.