NAN-H-77
Cost
By Veronica Dariya
Abuja, Feb.21, 2017 Abuja (NAN) An FCT High Court in Kubwa has ordered a defence counsel, Mr A.I. Solomon, to pay a witness N20, 000 as compensation for consistent absence in court.
Justice Bello Kawu on Tuesday, ordered Solomon to pay the witness, Miss Aisha Salisu, the amount for his continued absence in court in a conspiracy case against Innocent Lazarus.
Kawu noted that that was the third time the defence counsel would be absent in the court.
The judge said that Solomon’s action was detrimental to Salisu who had to travel from Kano to Abuja to be in court.
Lazarus is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust, in a suit filed by the EFCC.
The judge ordered Solomon to be present in court on March 21,for continuation of hearing, to cross examine the witness.
The accused was charged alongside with Mr Gambo Bala, Dr Felix Nwokocha, Cornelius Agenyi and Civil Awareness and Economic Empowerment Initiative, an NGO, for alleged N8 million fraud.
In the suit, the EFCC alleged that the defendants, on July 24, 2014 in Abuja, were entrusted with N8 million by Yishol Investment Ltd. for the procurement of Bank Guarantee.
EFCC said the transaction was done through the Civil Awareness and Economic Empowerment Initiative but alleged that the accused misappropriated the money.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Joseph Nwokocha, counsel to the second defendant, before cross examining the witness, applied to court to stand brief for Solomon, counsel to the third defendant.
He explained that Solomon was indisposed to make it to court.
Nwokocha, therefore, applied to court to the hold Solomon’s brief and do the cross examination of the witness on behalf of the counsel to the third defendant.
But Mr Chris Mshelia, the prosecuting Counsel, objected to the application arguing that it had been the practice of Solomon to be consistently absent in court in the trial.
Mshelia said that the court had earlier awarded another cost to the witness against his absent colleague, adding that Solomon never obliged the order.(NAN)
DVK/KOO/DUA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Dada Ahmed