The Federal High Court in Abuja has slammed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice with a fine.
A fine of N200,000 was imposed on Abubakar Malami for delaying the trial of Nnamdi Kanu’s Co-defendants on charges of treasonable felony preferred against them.
The judge ordered that each of the defendants be paid the sum of N50,000 by the AGF for the inconveniences they suffered due to the absence of the lead counsel to the Federal Government, Shuaib Magaji Labaran.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, there was no legal representation for the federal government, just at the point of adjournment, a lawyer from the ministry of justice Adewumi Aluko, appeared and announced that two witnesses were in court but will not want to proceed in the absence of the lead counsel, Shuaibu Labaran.
Through their lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the defendants complained bitterly about the hardship they suffered to raise funds for their transportation to Abuja.
The trial judge Justice Binta Nyako who expressed displeasure towards the non-diligence of the prosecution, ordered that each of the defendants be paid the sum of N50,000 by the AGF for the inconveniences they suffered and the payment must be made before the next adjourned date, which is March 17.
The four defendants are Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudike, Benjamin Maduagwu and David Nwaurusi.
The adjourned the matter to March 17 for the continuation of trial.
(synfoninews)
