Hearing of April 5th, 2018 Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, robbery suspects could not continue on Tuesday as a result of absence of prosecution witnesses. Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran who were the accused were all present in court.
The prosecution counsel, Bola Gold told the court that the police officers who are the prosecution witnesses in the matter were on national assignment for the last Saturday rerun elections in some parts of the country and had not returned to their base.
The defense counsel Mathias Emeribe did not oppose for the adjournment requested by Mr. Bola Gold. “our witnesses who are police officers participated in the last Saturday exercise, so they are unavoidably absent. I am sorry my Lord we will pick another date”. Bola Gold said.
“I have discussed with the defence counsel and we agreed on a day for adjournment.” he further explained. The trial Judge Haleema Salman, granted the adjournment but warned both the defence and prosecuting counsels against further delay in the hearing of matter.
She demonstrated disappointment, saying that no appreciable progress had been made in the hearing of the case since 2018 when it started due to request for adjournments by the counsels.
The Judge Haleema Salman, said that “both counsels should be prepared to end the trial in the next adjourned date so that hearing proper in the suit could commence same day”. She subsequently adjourned the case to February 10, 2020 for continuation of hearing and trial within trial.
