Today, Kawu’s lawyer was represented by Adetayo Adeyomo but he informed the court that he was not “properly briefed of the trial” and could not continue with the trial
The on-going trial of the Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Moddibbo Kawu, has suffered another setback as Kawu’s lawyer continues to absent himself from the court.
Kawu was arraigned in court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 12-count charge for involvement in the N2.5 billion seed grant for Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme of the federal government to a private company, Pinnacle Communications Limited.
The grant is to facilitate the nationwide rollout of the digital transmission of home television signals.
At the arraignment on Thursday, A. U. Mustapher (SAN), Kawu’s lawyer told the court he had to attend a burial ceremony of his late uncle on the next adjourned date.
Today, Kawu’s lawyer was represented by Adetayo Adeyomo but he informed the court that he was not “properly briefed of the trial” and could not continue with the trial.
Angered by the excuse of Adeyomo and Mustapher, Justice Giwa said the court would not continue to accommodate plans by Kawu and his counsel to unnecessarily waste the time of the court.
She stated that she would strictly adhere to the law and not grant adjournment beyond what is stipulated by the law.
She said: “I will continue to count and grant adjournments allowed in the ACJA (2015).
“If you like, continue to waste adjournments. You cannot continue to waste the time of the court.”
She, however, adjourned to 8th May 2019 for trial.