The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday picked August 4 for ruling on the bail application filed by a suspected Boko Haram sponsor, Salami Abdullahi ASTA.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed the date after hearing the submissions of the defence and prosecuting counsel, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Kolawale also fixed October 25 and November 3 for continuation of trial.
Abdullahi, a businessman, is standing trial for allegedly sponsoring activities of the Boko haram sect.
His counsel, Mr. Jubril Okutepa (SAN), said the law allowed multiple applications for bail in the same court and when there were exceptional circumstances.
Okutepa said Section 161 (2b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) defined exceptional circumstances to include instances where the prosecution exceeded one year.
He said, “It will be recalled that my lord ordered accelerated hearing of this case since 2014 and we are now in 2016. The accelerated hearing ordered by the court has not been followed.
“Besides there is a change in circumstances, the prosecution called seven witnesses and the evidence they have is consistent with the extra-judicial evidence of the second defendant that he knows nothing about Boko Haram.
“There is inordinate delay and what if at the end of the day, the defendant is not found guilty, will he be compensated?”
NAN
