A Federal High Court on Monday in Lokoja has adjourned the trial of the national coordinator of Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Frontier (PDPNYF), Comrade Austin Okai, charged for inciting public against Kogi State government until January 14, 2019.
Kogi state government preferred an fourteen-count charge against Okai, a social media activist.
Counsel to the national coordinator of Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Frontier (PDPNYF), Comrade Austin Okai, J. S Okutepa SAN argued that the witness scheduled to testify against the defendant is not qualified to be in the witness box.
Okutepa, represented by Barrister Ojonimi Apeh, posited that the statement of witness the prosecutor intended to call was not attached to the originating summons as required by the law. He stated that the prosecutor only attached a petition signed by Shedrach Omeiza Emmanuel, the senior special assistant to Governor Yahaya Bello on legal matters.
The prosecuting counsel pleaded with the court to disregard the objections raised by the defendant’s counsel. He argued that going by the amended charges against Okai, the witness’ statement was duly attached.
Okutepa responded that what was attached was a mere petition, not a statement. He insisted that Governor Bello’s aide was not qualified to be in the witness box.
The prosecuting counsel pleaded for a short adjournment to enable him study the authorities the defendant’s counsel based his objections upon.
Justice Okorowo adjourned the hearing to January 14.
The prosecuting counsel has lined up five witnesses who will testify against Okai. The Director General Media and Publicity to Kogi State Governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Barr. Shadrach Emmanuel Omeiza and three others are expected to mount the witness box when the trial commence.
