Spread the love
Justice Okorowo of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Monday, October 22 adjourned the trial of the national coordinator of Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Frontier (PDPNYF), Comrade Austin Okai, for inciting public against Kogi State government.
Okai is standing on an amended 14-count charge.
The prosecuting counsel informed the judge that he has lined up five witnesses who will testify against Okai on the course of trial. Three of the witnesses, 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 one other, were present in court.
However, the defense counsel, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa SAN, appealed to the trial judge to adjourn the matter because of his inability to appear in court as a result of the dusk to dawn curfew in Kaduna State.
Represented by Barr. Ojonimi Apeh, Okutepa said is stranded in Kaduna due to the curfew imposed by the Kaduna state government as a result of the bloody unrest that engulfed the ancient city.
The prosecution counsel argued that his is ready for the commencement of trial and believe the defense team was ready as well based on their discussion before the court session.
In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice D. U Okorowo adjourned the trial to November 26.
Okai was charged for inciting the public against government of Kogi state, causing disappearance of handset and other evidences, conspired with some criminals to bomb the recently commissioned Kogi Revenue House and publication of false articles on social media to embarrass Governor Yahaya Bello and his cabinet. He was also accused of publishing the rumor of death of Governor Bello during the one year anniversary.
Spread the love
