The arraignment of a former resident pastor of the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja, Rev. Dr. Israel Akanji and five others over an alleged N620 million fraud was stalled on Thursday, due to the absence of the prosecution counsel.
The case, marked CR/1045/24, was earlier scheduled for Thursday for the arraignment of the defendants before Justice J. A. Aina of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kwali but, when the case was called, the trial Judge, Justice J.T Aina announced that, the court received a letter from the prosecution counsel, Mr. Wisdom Madaki seeking an adjournment, as he was at the National Assembly for an official engagement.
However, Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, who represented the defendants, told the court that the defendants have not been served with the prosecution’s letter for adjournment and informed the court of an application seeking to quash the charges against the defendants.
Akintola who expressed surprise at the prosecution’s absence, stated that the defense was ready to proceed in the matter.
Justice Aina, however, said, since the prosecution’s letter is properly before the court, it is proper to grant the adjournment in the interest of justice and that, the proper thing to do was for the prosecution to serve the defence with the letter.
The case was subsequently adjourned till May 27, 2025 for further arraignment.
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