Ayuba Sanusi
JUSTICE Jude Onwuegbuzie of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja yesterday (Thursday, 14 November 2024) berated Adeola Adedipe (SAN), counsel to former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye for employing delay tactics to stall the pace of progress in the trial of the former minister.
Agunloye is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the court on seven-count charges bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of Six Billion US Dollars ($6, 000,000,000.00)
At Thursday’s proceedings, the judge observed that the defence counsel has been in the habit of advancing excuses based on Agunloye’s health and age as well as the filing of diverse motions, which have ensured that progress was not made in the trial.
Addressing the defence counsel, Justice Onwuegbuzie stated “My principle of justice is that of no delay. The other time, you brought up the issue of amicus curiae and wasted the time of the court. You should also know that in my court I don’t read processes in court. If you need time to serve processes, it must reach me on time and your colleague must also be duly aware in time. There must be mutual respect. Do not come and serve processes in court, I don’t take that in my court,” he said.
Prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), had at the beginning of proceedings informed the court that the business of the day was the adoption of the prosecution’s application for the amendment of the charge which was filed on 30 October 2024, to which the defence curiously responded with a counter affidavit and a plea to the court to grant an adjournment to enable the prosecution to study the affidavit.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till 28 November 2024 to rule on the adoption of the application.
Eighteen-Eleven Media