Ex CDS trial stalled as court adjourns

Justice Okon Abang of an Abuja Federal High Court on Monday March 14, 2016 adjourned the trial of Alex Badeh, former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), following his application for adjournment.

Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel to Alex Badeh, had asked the court for an adjournment of the trial because he was new to the case, Samuel Zibiri (SAN) had appeared as Badeh’s lead counsel at the hearing of his bail application, before Olujimi took over the brief.

Olujimi asked the court to give him time to study the brief of his client.

Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); the prosecution in his opposition, told the court that Badeh was trying to scuttle the trial. He reminded the court that it had ordered a day-to-day hearing of the case.

Earlier, Abang had stood down the trial owing to the absence of Badeh.

Jacobs had told the court that the defendant was absent, hence a need to suspend the trial for a while. Olujimi did not object to the prayer; the court, therefore, stood down the case until the arrival of Badeh.

Abang held that the defendant had all the facility to prepare his defence, but he observed that it was served proof of additional evidence late. He stated that, “justice delayed is justice denied,” just as “justice rushed is justice crushed.”

He therefore adjourned the trial to Wednesday, March 16, 2016 for trial.

Badeh is accused of criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune of N3.9bn.

SEYI ANJORIN