The Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday fixed March 16 for the hearing of alleged terrorism charge against Nazeef Yunus, a lecturer of the Kogi State University.
The judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, adjourned the case due to the absence of Hassan Liman (SAN), lead counsel to Yunus.
A. T. Hassan, a member of the defence team, told the court that Liman was absent because he had to travel out of the country to take care of his health.
Hassan said: “The learned SAN had to travel for a medical check up and in view of this, he has asked that his apologies be given to this honourable court.
“He, has however, asked that due to the nature of the charges against the first defendant, he will like to take the cross examination himself.”
Prosecuting counsel, Tolu Ogunshina, told the court that the continuous delay of the case was frustrating the Federal Government.
Ogunshina asked that the defendants be made to pay cost to the prosecution since the delay was coming from them.
But, Kolawole, however, noted that Administration of Criminal Justice Act was not cheap, and advised both parties to take five other dates when they would appear on March 16 to speed up proceedings.
The judge said it was his belief that the case would be dispensed with before the court goes on recess in July.
Yunus, a lecturer at the Kogi State University; Salami Abdullahi a businessman; and Umar Musa were arraigned for alleged membership of the Boko Haram sect.
They were also alleged to be sponsoring and engaging in clandestine acts that border on terrorism.
Credit: NAN.
