Abuja – An FCT High Court, Jabi on Thursday fixed Monday, May 16 for hearing in the resumed trial of five men charged with robbing a retired army general.
The presiding judge, Justice Abba-Bello Mohammed, fixed the date after the prosecution team failed to turn up in court.
Mohammed, however, said that the prosecution should be duly informed of the new date.
The defendants, Rabiu Mohammed, John Patrick, Awwalu Abdullahi, Yusuf Suleiman and Suleiman Daudu, were charged with allegedly conspiring among themselves to carry out a robbery attack in Gwarinpa, Abuja.
The defendants were also charged with attempted homicide.
They were alleged to have robbed one Retired Maj.-Gen. Halilu-Galadima Aminu on Aug. 3, 2015 and were first arraigned before Mohammed on April 19.
The charges contravened Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, CAP R11, Section 1(b) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 229 of the Penal Code.
The Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Federal Ministry of Justice arraigned the defendants on behalf of the Federal Government.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, Mr Victor Labesa, informed the court that the prosecution counsel was not in court.
According to Labesa, he had just been given a letter which the prosecution counsel forwarded to the court seeking for adjournment to a new date.
Labesa, however, told the court that it was the prosecution counsel, who suggested this date at the last sitting, adding that his absence in court was a ploy to further delay the matter.
Also, Counsel to the 4th and 5th defendants, Mr Landan Babakodong aligned himself to the submission of Labesa.
They, however, prayed the court to apply the Section of Administration of Criminal Justice which seeks a speedy trial for every criminal case. (NAN)
