The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday sanctioned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, ordering the payment of N200, 000 fine for the failure of the lead counsel to the federal government to make an appearance in court for the trial of four co-defendants of Nnamdi Kanu.
The presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, mandated that the justice minister should pay the sum of N50,000 to each of the defendants for inconveniences in making appearance in court in the absence of the lead counsel to the Federal Government, Shuaib Magaji Labaran.
Justice Nyako also ordered that the minister must pay the N200, 000 to the defendants before the March 17 date of adjournment. The four defendants include Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudike, Benjamin Maduagwu, and David Nwaurusi.
At the commencement of the court proceedings on Wednesday, there was no legal counsel to the Federal Government.
At eth point of adjournment of the case by the judge, a counsel, Mrs. Adewumi Aluko, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, made a sudden appearance, apologizing that the lead counsel Federal Government was not in the country. She notified the court that two witnesses were in court, noting that she cannot proceed with the case in the absence of the lead counsel. She requested for an adjournment.
The presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, was not satisfied with the apology of Mrs. Adewumi Aluko, and she proceeded to impose the fines on the minister of justice.