Absence of witness’s statement stalls Dino Melaye’s trial

The trial of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi, PDP) before an FCT High Court in Maitama has been stalled due to the failure of the prosecution to provide witness statement.

Melaye was arraigned on March 1 by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on a twocount charge for allegedly giving false information to the police to incriminate the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Edward Onoja David, as the mastermind of an alleged assassination attempt on his (Melaye) life.

He was also alleged to have given false statement of facts in a phone conversation with Mohammed Abubakar, son of the late former governor of Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, with the intention of harming the reputation of David. He pleaded not guilty to the offences.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, his counsel, Olusegun Jolaawo, objected to a prosecution’s witness, Edward Onoja, taking the stand to testify in the case. He objected on the strength that the prosecution failed to furnish the defence with the statement of the witness sought to be put in the dock.

The prosecution counsel, Ms. Chika Nnanna, however apologized for the omission and urged the court for an adjournment to enable her properly file the necessary documents. “It was not intentional to keep away relevant documents from the defence” she added. The trial judge, Justice Olasumbo Goodluck thereafter adjourned the case to Dec. 5 and 13 for definite hearing.