The trial of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) at the High Court of the FCT was stalled yesterday due to the court’s recession.
The matter was adjourned till September 24 for continuation of hearing.
Melaye was accused of falsely discriminating against Edward Onoja David, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello in the said assassinations attempt.
At the last sitting, Melaye’s lawyer, Ricky Tafa (SAN), filed a medical report that the defendant is on admission at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Hospital, Abuja and so could not attend trial.
But Prosecuting Counsel Shaibu Labaran told the court that the defendant had jumped bail.
He said: “My lord we were able to get Exhibit A, B and C from the defendant, which was not related to the proceedings, before this honourable court
“It is our further submission that Exhibit B and C are duplicated copies of the medical report which the defence placed heavy reliance to convince this court as to the justification of the defendant’s absence.
“If it were a true medical report, then we will not have objected. Exhibit B and C are photocopies without certification and this falls short in requirements of the evidence.”
Labaran alleged that the information contained in the medical report were speculations by the deponent to the said report.
“Assuming the documents emanated from the National Hospital, it would have become a public document which requires certification. My objection to this is that it has no bearing before this court and we urge it to disregard the exhibit,” he added.
Justice Olusumbo Goodluck adjourned the matter sine-die until medical conditions of the defendant is reported to have improved.
Credit: The Nation
