The absence of counsel for the Federal Government on Wednesday, June 21, had delayed the commencement of the trial of Tukur Mamu, who is being adjudged over his reported relationship with terrorists that had bombed the Abuja-Kaduna train last year.
The court case which was the third one on the court list was scheduled for trial before Justice Inyang Ekwo at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
But when the matter was called, only Mamu’s counsel, Obiabo Francis-Amedo, had been present in court.
The lawyer had revealed to the court that he was alerted via a letter from the prosecution stating that the prosecuting counsel in the matter had gone on training and that they recommended a date before the vacation.
Justice Ekwo had then at the instance of the prosecution, adjourned the court trial to July 19.
Let’s recollect that, Mamu, a former terrorists’ negotiator, had been arraigned on March 21 by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, –after being arrested on September 6, 2022– on a 10 count charge verging on terrorism financing, particularly relating to the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.
Mamu had since pleaded not guilty to the charges.
It begs to ask why a very high profile court case is being handled lightly.
For someone being charged with financing terrorism, it is expected for most if jot all necessary court documents to be prepared days before a scheduled court trial.
This lackadaisical attitude coming from a Federal Government counsel is disappointing to say the least.
Hopefully, July 19 is more than enough time for either if the counsels, the presiding judge and the affected parties to free up their schedules and make time for the trial.
