The absence of prosecution witnesses in court on Tuesday stalled the continuation of hearing in the April 5, 2018, Offa bank robbery trial of five suspects allegedly involved at a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

The five accused persons are Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran were present in court.

Prosecution counsel, Bola Gold, told the court that the police officers who are the prosecution witnesses in the matter were on national assignment for the last Saturday rerun elections in some parts of the country and had not returned to their base.

In view of this, he sought an adjournment, which the defence counsel, Mathias Emeribe, did not oppose.

In granting the adjournment, the trial judge, Justice Haleema Salman, warned both the defence and prosecuting counsels against unnecessary delay in the hearing of the matter.

She expressed dissatisfaction that no appreciable progress had been made in the hearing of the case since 2018 when it started due to requests for adjournments by the counsels.

The judge said that both counsels should be prepared to end the trial in the next adjourned date so that hearing proper in the suit could commence the same day.

She subsequently adjourned the case until February 10, 2020.

Speaking with journalists after court proceedings, counsel to both parties assured of their preparedness to ensure speedy disposal of the matter.