An FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the prosecution to pay N100,000 for stalling alleged falsehood trial of Senator Dino Melaye.
The lawmaker was charged with two counts bordering on giving false information to the police in April 2017.
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Justice Olasumbo Goodluck ruled on Tuesday that the prosecution is to pay the aforementioned amount after it told the court that its witnesses could not make it to court.
Goodluck held that by the provisions of Section 396 (4)(6) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015, parties are entitled to five adjournments and nothing more.
The judge said she was not pleased with the attitude of the prosecution in the matter, especially when the matter was placed on day-to-day hearing and the defendant’s counsel comes from outside jurisdiction.
Goodluck then adjourned the matter until December 5 for continuation of trial.
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Earlier, the prosecution counsel, N.O. Ezra, informed the court that her witnesses were not in court and requested for adjournment to enable her bring her witnesses.
But defence counsel, Olusegun Odubela, told the court that this was unfair to the defendant because the witness could not be more involved in Kogi election than the defendant who was a candidate in the election.
