ABIDJAN – The trial of Cote d’Ivore’s former first lady and 89 other supporters of former President Laurent Gbagbo failed to hold on Wednesday as scheduled by the judicial authorities.
Relatives of some accused persons who stormed the court premises in Abidjan on Wednesday were disappointed as the trial could not commence.
A defence lawyer, Mr Frédéric Blédé told newsmen that the postponement was expected because both the defence and judges were not yet ready to proceed on the matter.
“It was very late on Tuesday that we got a signal that the matter will not commence as planned, we saw it coming even the judges are not yet ready.
“Defence lawyers are still studying the files, and preliminary proceedings for confirmation of identities on the 89 other persons has just been concluded,’’ he said.
NAN recalls that trial on cases involving Simone and 89 other members of Gbagbo’s party, the Ivorian Popular Front was scheduled to commence on Wednesday.
Also prominent on the list of persons scheduled for trial are former Prime Minister, Ake N’Gbo and the party’s President, Pascal N’guessan.
They are being charged with several criminal offences allegedly committed during the post-election violence that engulfed the country.
NAN reports that the FPI described the planned trial as a plot by the Alasanne Ouattara-led government to silence the opposition before the 2015 presidential election.
It would be recalled that a disputed election between Ouattara and Gbagbo plunged Cote d’Ivoire into a post-election crisis, reported to have caused the death of some 3,000 persons.(NAN)