ALLEGED FALSEHOOD: Court orders prosecution to pay N.1m for stalling Melaye’s trial

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the prosecution to pay N100, 000 for stalling the alleged falsehood trial of Senator Dino Melaye.

The court presided over by Justice Olasumbo Goodluck gave the order after the prosecution informed the court that their witnesses were not in court.

The Federal Government is prosecuting the senator on two –count charge of giving false information to the police.

The government had alleged that Melaye, sometime in April 2017 deliberately gave false information to the police.

Unhappy with the prosecution excuse, the judge held that by the provisions of Section 396 (4)(6) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015, parties are entitled to five adjournments and nothing more.

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The judge frowned that the prosecution would be given such an excuse when the matter was placed on a day- to- day hearing and the defendant’s counsel comes from outside jurisdiction.

“A cost of N100, 000 is therefore awarded against the prosecution instead of N250, 000 prayed by the defendant’s counsel” the judge ordered.

The judge said the trial was slated for November 19 and 20 and both dates of the trial are stalled over the prosecution’s failure to bring their witnesses to court.

She then adjourned the matter till December 5 for the continuation of trial.

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