The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has fixed July 14 for the continuation of the trial of 15 persons arrested over their alleged involvement in the invasion of former Supreme Court Justice Mary Peter-Odili’s house.
When the matter pending before Justice Ekerete Akpan was called, the prosecuting counsel, J.I. Kpandeh, informed the court that the matter was for the continuation of the trial.
Mr Kpandeh proceeded to call the third prosecution witness, Solomon Gotang, to continue with his testimony.
The prosecutor led the witness to tender a letter written to the office of the force secretary, and the reply received thereafter.
While all the defendants did not object to the admissibility of the letter to the force secretary, they, however, objected to the reply being admitted in evidence.
Counsel to the first defendant, Edeh Chukwuebuka, said that his reason for objecting to the admissibility of the document was on the grounds that the document was different from what the witness had identified.
Following objections from other defence counsel on similar grounds, the prosecutor was compelled to withdraw the document to obtain certification before tendering it in evidence.
He said not certifying it was an oversight, as the document was essential in proving his case against the defendants.
The prosecutor also tendered another document, which he said was an analysis done by the witness of the investigation.
When asked how he would ascertain the authenticity of the document, the witness stated that it had certain features that would enable him to identify it.
“I can identify it because it is a two-page document with the logo of the Nigerian Police Force, and on each of the pages, there is a diagrammatic presentation of the respective roles played by the defendants,” the witness said.
The document was admitted into evidence since there was no objection.
The prosecution subsequently requested an adjournment from the court to allow the defendants to cross-examine the witness on the next adjourned date.
The trial judge, Mr Akpan, adjourned the matter until July 14.
The defendants in the trial include Adjodo Lawrence (aka Ola Ojo), Michael Diete-Spiff, Alex Onyekuru, Bayero Lawal (aka director of EFCC) and Igwe Ernest.
Others are Aliyu Ibrahim, Maimuna Maishanu, Ayodele Akindipe (aka Herbalist), Yusuf Adaiu (aka godson to Peter Odili), Bashir Musa, Stanley Nkwazema and Shehu Jibo.
They are standing trial on an 18-count criminal charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and unlawful invasion.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were arraigned and were admitted to bail of N5 million each, with two sureties each in the like sum.
Justice Nkeonye Maha previously handled the case, but following her transfer to another division, the case was transferred to Mr Akpan.
(NAN)
