Sowore’s Co-defendant Bakare To Pay N150,000 Fine For Causing ‘Inordinate Delay’ Of Trial

Olawale Bakare, a co-defendant in the alleged treason trial of the #RevolutionNow founder, Omoleye Sowore, has been asked by a Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, to pay the total sum of 150,000 naira to the federal government as cost for his absence in court during Thursday’s hearing.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order after faulting the defendant’s counsel, Femi Falana SAN and Abubakar Marshal for trying to prolong the trial.

She also noted that Bakare’s absence frustrated the trial.

The matter was scheduled to hold by 1 pm today and Friday but Marshal and Sowore walked into the court after that time.

Marshal told the judge that he had earlier sent a letter dated January 29, 2021, asking for the vacation of the date of trial.

He prayed the court to adjourn the trial to a later date, adding also that the second defendant resides in Osun and he is a student.

“We apologise for the mix up and we seek the understanding of the complainant as regarding our application,” he added.

But A.K. Alilu, who represented the Attorney General of the Federation, told the court that the defense was attempting to deceive the court.

He also urged the court to revoke the bail of the defendants.

“It is an affront to this court for them to stay away and to tell us that they are on their way,” he said.

After listening to their arguments, Justice Ojukwu was displeased with the defendant for not giving a genuine reason why the case should not proceed today.

“In any event, the first defendant is in court now, the second defendant is still absent; the failure of the second defendant to be in court will definitely affect and has affected the proceedings today.

“Since there is no good reason to seek an adjournment by the letter of 29 January 2021, I hold the defense liable for causing inordinate delay in the prosecution of this case…. In view of that, the second defendant shall pay the cost of 100,000 naira to the prosecution,” she said.

She also refrained from making an order for the revocation of the bail of the second defendant but said that he must pay additional 50,000 naira on the next adjourned date of April 28 and 29.