Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja on Thursday, November 14, 2024, berated Adeola Adedipe, SAN, counsel to former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye for employing delay tactics to stall the pace of progress in the trial of the former minister.
Agunloye is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on seven-count charges bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6 billion (Six Billion US Dollars).
At Thursday’s proceedings, the judge observed that defence counsel had been in the habit of advancing excuses based on Agunloye’s health and age and filing diverse motions, which ensured that progress was not made in the trial.
Addressing the defence counsel, Justice Onwuegbuzie stated, “My principle of justice is that of no delay. The other time you brought up the issue of amicus curiae and wasted the court’s time. You should also know that in my court I don’t read processes. If you need time to serve processes, it must reach me on time and your colleague must also be duly aware in time. There must be mutual respect. Do not come and serve processes in court, I don’t take that in my court,” he said.
At the beginning of proceedings, Prosecuting Counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, informed the court that the day’s business was the adoption of the prosecution’s application for the amendment of the charge filed on October 30, 2024. The defence curiously responded with a counter-affidavit and a plea to the court to grant an adjournment to enable the prosecution to study the affidavit.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till November 28, 2024, to rule on the adoption of the application.
