Judge threatens to dismiss terrorism case against Ndume

The trial of an alleged Boko Haram sponsor, Senator Aliyu Ndume on terrorism charges, at an Abuja Federal High Court was adjourned on Thursday following a request by the prosecution, the Federal Government.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole however threatened to strike out the charges against the Senator if the government was not ready to prosecute the case.
During the last hearing in the case on December 19, 2011, Kolawole had granted bail to the accused, who was then in custody at the Kuje Prison in Abuja, and made an order for accelerated hearing of the case, adjourning the matter to February 2 and 7 and 14, 2012, for trial.
However, when the court sat for the commencement of trial on Thursday, Mr. Cliff Osagie, standing in for the lead prosecuting counsel, the Director of Public Prosecution in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Fatunde, who was absent, drew Kolawole’s attention to a letter from the counsel (Fatunde) informing the court of her inability to attend the hearing.
Osagie expressed the DPP’s regrets for her absence, noting that the defence team had also been informed that the lead prosecution counsel would be absent as she had travelled for “an event of national importance.”
Osagie also informed the court that, as a result of Fatunde’s absence, the prosecution was seeking “a short adjournment.”
Source