FG vs Dino Melaye: See What Happened Tuesday In Court

Senator Dino Malaye

The absence of the prosecution counsel, Mr Shuaibu Labaran, stalled the trial of Senator Dino Malaye in an FCT High Court, Maitama, Tuesday.

Dino Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly, is charged with two counts bordering on giving false information to the police.

The Federal Government arraigned Dino Melaye, alleging that he, sometime in April, 2017, deliberately gave false information to the police.

Mr Abubakar Mustapha who held brief for Labaran, at the resumed sitting, told the court that the matter was for cross-examination of prosecution witness, NAN reports.

He, however, pleaded with the court, saying the matter cannot proceed as there was a communication gap between him and the lead counsel, Labaran who was absent.

Mustapha also informed the court that the prosecution witness was also not in court and that he was supposed to be cross-examined today by the defence counsel.

He, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment.

READ ALSO: Police stay put at Melaye’s residence, want him to surrender

The defence counsel, Mr Olusegun Jolaawo, opposed the application for adjournment and told the court that “On Jan. 18, this matter came up with the same excuse.

“The reason the matter could not go on that day was that the same witness was absent in court and no tenable reason was given this is the second time on record as a witness who is in the box is absent from court.

“The witness has an obligation to make himself available on every adjourned date, whether court sits or not until your lordship orders his discharge, We could not carry out cross-examination majorly because he is absent from court,” he said.

Mr Jolaawo reminded the court that “Section 215 of the Evidence Act further clarifies on the issue of the order and direction of examination, by the following subsections:

According to Mr Jolaawo, this section of Evidence Act gives them the right to cross-examine a witness.

The judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck, after listening to Jolaawo’s submission adjourned until July 3, July 4 and July 10.

Goodluck warned that this would be the last time she would be adjourning the matter.