A Kogi State High Court, sitting in Lokoja, the state capital, yesterday adjourned the case of alleged corruption against former Governor Ibrahim Idris by a former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaiye, till next Tuesday.
The court, presided over by Justice H. A. Olusuyi, adjourned the matter, following the late service of a counter-affidavit filed by the counsel to the defendant, Mr. Pius Akubo (SAN).
The counter-affidavit came on the heels of a motion filed on September 24 by Melaiye’s counsel, Mr. Godwin Iyinbor, of Mike Ozekhome’s law firm.
The plaintiff prayed the court to grant him leave to conclude his case and rescind the court’s decision, which it earlier granted the defendants.
The plaintiff asked the defendant to open his case.
At yesterday’s hearing, Iyinbor told the court that the defence needed to open its case while the court should hear the plaintiff’s motion of September 24.
He said the plaintiff was served with the defendant’s counter-affidavit in the court yesterday morning.
The lawyer urged the court to give the plaintiff more time to study the affidavit.
“A cursory look at the counter-affidavit shows that we need to respond to issues on the facts raised in the counter-affidavit.
“The defendant claimed to have filed the counter-affidavit on October 2. Why didn’t the bailiff serve us until today?” Iyinbor queried.
When the court enquired from the registrar why the service of the counter-affidavit was not served on time, the registrar explained that at the time the counter-affidavit was filed, there was no mobilisation service.
