* Wants FG’s legal team to take trial of defendants more serious
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, to pay N200,000 to the four members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, who are standing trial alongside their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The judge also directed that the N200,000 fine should be paid to the defendants before the next adjourned date on March 17.
The four defendants are Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudike, Benjamin Maduagwu and David Nwaurusi.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Wednesday, the case was called but there was no legal representation for the Federal Government.
But just as Justice Binta Nyako was about to adjourn the matter, a lawyer, Mrs Adewumi Aluko, from the Federal Ministry of Justice came in and apologized for coming late, saying that the Federal Government’s lead lawyer was out of the country.
Aluko also told the court that although two witnesses were in court, she would not want to proceed in the absence of the lead lawyer and sought for an adjournment.
Justice Nyako later asked the Federal Government legal team to take the trial of the defendants more serious.
The judge directed the AGF to pay each of the defendants, N50,000 for failing to conduct a diligent prosecution and for the inconveniences they suffered as a result of the absence of the lead lawyer to the Federal Government, Mr Labaran Shuiabu, in court.
Justice Nyako also directed that the N200,000 fine should be paid to the defendants before the next adjourned date of March 17.
She also cautioned the defence lawyers to desist from using frivolous applications to delay the trial, which started since 2015.
The defendants, through their lawyers, complained that they had faced untold hardships in a bid to raise funds for their transportation to Abuja, to face trial.
