Apo six: court adjourns again till Nov. 15 for adoption of addresses
NAN-H-48
Adjournment
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) An FCT High Court on Tuesday adjourned again the alleged extra-judicial killing of six Apo trader till Nov. 15 for adoption of final written addresses.
The the Attorney-General of the Federation had in 2005 arraigned policemen on a 9-count of conspiracy and culpable homicide contrary to sections 97 and 221 (a) of the Penal Code.
The Police officers were; Danjuma Ibrahim, Othman Abdulsalami , Nicholas Zakaria, Ezekiel Acheneje, Baba Emmanuel and Sadiq Salami.
They allegedly killed; Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwodike and and a woman Augustina Arebun.
The judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, granted the adjournment at the instance of the prosecuting counsel, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), who informed the court of a communication breakdown within the team.
At the resumed hearing, Uche had applied for an adjournment citing a disconnection in the communication within the prosecution team as his reason
Uche also prayed for 21 days to file and reply the defence written addresses.
Mr Ricky Tarfa (SAN), counsel to the first respondent, did not oppose the application, but asked that the time be abridged. Mr Mohammed Tola, counsel to the third defendant aligned with Tarfa.
But, Mr Anthony Agbonlahor, Counsel to the fifth defendant, opposed the application on the ground that the reason Uche gave was not cogent enough.
Agbonlahor said that these defendants had been in detention for a very long time already, that the prosecution had an ample time to have done all that was necessary since the last sitting on June 29.
At the last sitting, Tarfa had prayed the court for an extension of time to file and serve their final written addresses out of time.
Tarfa also prayed for 21 days for defence to file their written addresses.
The Prosecuting counsel, Mr Mamman Osuman (SAN), did not oppose the application but prayed the court for 21 days to file composite reply to the defence written addresses.
Osuman also prayed for an adjournment to enable them file such reply.
Bello granted their applications as prayed. (NAN)
NEO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha