Date: 2021-01-26

The trial judge in the April 5, 2018 Offa bank robbery case, Justice Haleema Salman, on Monday said prosecution, and not the court was delaying the trial of suspects.

At the resumed hearing, Justice Salman expressed displeasure of the court on the media reports that the court was delaying the trial of the suspects.

He said, "The court is not happy about the news going round in the media that the court is delaying adjudication on this matter. If anybody is to be blamed for the delay in this trial, it’s the prosecution. The case was adjourned on September 7, 2020 to December 21 and 22, 2020, to enable the prosecution bring its key witness (Inspector Joseph Danjuma) to court. But on December 21, 2020, the prosecution was still unable to produce the witness."

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Bola Gold, had filed an application before the court seeking the replacement of Danjuma with Inspector John Newoke.

He told the court that Danjuma was outside the country on an official assignment, praying for an adjournment.

The defence counsel, Mathias Emeribe, did not raise objection.

He, however, complained to the court that the health challenge of the first accused, Ayoade Akinnibosun, had not been attended to as ordered by the court. Justice Salman gave a definite order that Akinnibosun should be given proper treatment. ?

He adjourned the case till February 17, 2021.