The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the trial of Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Umar (a.k.a. Kabiru Sokoto) by four days, citing failure of the accused’s counsel to file a counter affidavit.
Earlier on 19th April, Justice Adeniyi Ademola had granted a seven-day grace to the defence counsel, Adamu Ibrahim to respond to the prosecution’s processes.
However, at Thursday’s resumption of hearing, Ibrahim accused the prison authorities of denying him access to his client. This, he said, was responsible for his failure to file the counter affidavit, as his client had yet to brief him.
He argued that the action of the prison authorities negated the order of the court, which already granted him access and further described the State Security Service (SSS) as better coordinated and more humane it its handling of access to inmates.
But prosecuting counsel, Chioma Oniegbu urged the court to proceed with the trial, alleging that the defence counsel had in fact held several meetings with the accused, adding that if the two truly did not meet, that must be due to renovation works at Kuje Prison.
The court has ordered the re-transfer of the accused the custody of the SSS.
Alleged to have been complicit in the bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State on 25th December 2011, Umar is accused of having foreknowledge of the blast yet failing to alert security agents. He is equally accused of membership of the Boko Haram Islamist sect.
