Consonance to the stalling of the trial of the former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the federal government to pay N100,000 to Dino Melaye.
It should be recalled that the Senator is charged with two counts which center on the provision of false information to the law enforcement agents.
The verdict was given by the Judge, Olasumbo Goodluck, following prays by the prosecution lawyer, N. O. Ezra that their witnesses were not in court. The federal government’s lawyer, Mrs. Ezra, therefore implored the court to adjourn the case so as to enable her to make the witnesses available.
In reaction, Mr. Melaye’s lawyer, Olusegun Odubela, informed the court that this development was quite unfair to the defendant giving the fact that the witness could not be more preoccupied in the Kogi election than the defendant who was even a candidate in the just concluded election.
He said, “The court should be guided by the provisions of sections 396 (4) (6) of ACJA and 36 (4) of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“The prosecution has not adduced any cogent reasons why their witnesses are not available in court, in case the court grants them an adjournment, we will be asking for a cost of N250,000,” he maintained.
Reacting to the two sides, the Judge, Mrs. Olasumbo Goodluck, cited the provisions of Section 396 (4)(6) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and explained that parties to a case are entitled to only five adjournments.
She further expressed displeasure with the attitude of the prosecution. Hence, she ordered that “A cost of N100,000 is therefore awarded against the prosecution instead of N250,000 prayed by the defendant’s counsel.”
Mrs. Goodluck further postponed the trial to December 5.
