It was gathered that Aigbe’s new lawyer, Barrister O.E Ube, sought for an adjournment of the trial on Wednesday pursuant to Section 36 (A) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Magistrate Court sitting in Zuba, Abuja, has held the trial of the Abuja-based Pastor of the House on the Rock Refuge Church, Wuye, Uche Aigbe, and adjourned it over a change of his lawyer.
It was gathered that Aigbe’s new lawyer, Barrister O.E Ube, sought for an adjournment of the trial on Wednesday pursuant to Section 36 (A) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, the prosecution counsel, JCA Idachaba, objected to the new defence counsel’s adjournment request, as he argued that Section 36 of the constitution cited by the defence counsel did not envisage indulgence and the defence application was too many.
But the court granted the defence counsel prayer and adjourned the case to May 25, 2023, for definite hearing.
The cleric, Aigbe and two others including Promise Ukachukwu and Olakunle Ogunleye, are being prosecuted for alleged criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of a firearm, inciting disturbance and criminal intimidation.
The police alleged that the defendants who are all members of House on the Rock Refuge Church in Wuye, Abuja, conspired with an illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle on February 12, 2023.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges but the prosecutor, Assistant Police Commissioner, ACP James Idachaba, informed the court that the defendants got the firearm from Inspector Musa Audu, attached to the Wuye division who was posted on guard duty at Aigbe’s Church.
The prosecutor added that the defendants used the firearm for an illustration while preaching a sermon about faith in the church, alleging that the defendants made inciting and intimidating statements to the church congregation that could cause alarm and breach of peace.
ACP Idachaba said that the offence is punishable under Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004, and contravened Section 97, 114, and 397 of the Penal Code.