Absence of Prosecution Witness Stalls Nyako’s Trial

Alex Enumah in Abuja
The trial of former Adamawa Governor, Murtala Nyako, for corruption allegations at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was yesterday stalled due to the absence of prosecution witness.

Nyako, his son Abdulaziz and two others are standing trial on a 37-count charge bordering on corruption and money laundering to the tune of N40billion.

At the resumed trial yesterday before Justice Okon Abang, the prosecuting counsel, A.O Atolagbe, informed the court that it was the turn of the defence to give its response in regards to the admissibility or otherwise of some documents.

“Today is for the response of the defendants to the documents sought to be tendered by the prosecution through the third prosecution witness,” he said.
Atolagbe, however, told the court that the witness was not in court as he was on leave and currently outside Abuja.

He stated that the absence of the witness was due to the fact that the defendants were only to give their response on the matter.
Atolagbe noted that the prosecution could not call any further witness until the third witness had finished giving his testimony.

He promised to produce the witness in court on the next adjourn date.
The defence counsel, Ibrahim Isiaku (SAN), who said he was holding the brief of Kanu Agabi (SAN) informed the court that he just got information that the witness was not in court.
He added that since no other witness could be called, it was better to continue the matter on the next adjourn date.

Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, expressed disappointment over the absence of the prosecution witness, noting that it was wrong of the prosecution to assume that the matter could go on without the witness present in court.

According to him, it was the position of the law that the witness must be in court since the said document sought to be tendered involved him.
Abang therefore, adjourned the matter at the instance of the prosecution to February 20 to 24 for continuation of trial.