A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fined the attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami N200,000 over the failure of the Federal Government’s lead counsel to show up for the trial of four co-defendants of Nnamdi Kanu.
The four defendants are Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudike, Benjamin Maduagwu, and David Nwaurusi.
Justice Binta Nyako ordered that Malami pays each of the defendants the sum of N50,000 for the inconveniences they suffered due to the absence of the lead counsel to the Federal Government, Shuaib Labaran.
The money is to be paid before the adjourned date of March 17, the court ruled.
The defendants had through their lawyers complained about the hardship they suffered to raise funds for their transportation to Abuja.
However, as the judge was about to adjourn, Adewumi Aluko from the Federal Ministry of Justice came in and apologised, saying the Federal Government’s lead counsel was out of the country.
Nyako warned the Federal Government to be more serious in the trial of the defendants.
She also counselled the defence lawyers to stop using frivolous applications to delay the trial which began in 2015.
