Court fixes May 31 to re-open case against Maj. Mustapha, others.
A Lagos High Court has fixed May 31 for ruling on the application filed by the prosecution to re-open its case against Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha and two others.
Al-Mustapha, Rabo Lawal and Lateef Shofolahan are facing criminal trial over their alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Justice Mojisola Dada had earlier closed the prosecution’s case due to its inability to produce witnesses in court.
However, the Lagos State Solicitor-General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), in an application dated April 13, asked the court to re-open the case.
Pedro told the court that the essence of the application was to allow the Commissioner of Police, Fari Yusuf, to complete his evidence and be cross-examined by the defence counsel.
He argued that the application was not meant to damage the case or re-open new issues but that it was necessary to allow Yusuf to conclude his evidence.
Opposing the application, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, urged the court to dismiss the application, adding that the prosecution held the court to ransom for more than four months.
Ojo further accused the prosecution of prosecution lethargy due to ignorance and sheer mischief.
He said the prosecution had failed to place before the court any legal authority for it to exercise its discretion in its favour.
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A Lagos High Court has fixed May 31 for ruling on the application filed by the prosecution to re-open its case against Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha and two others.
Al-Mustapha, Rabo Lawal and Lateef Shofolahan are facing criminal trial over their alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Justice Mojisola Dada had earlier closed the prosecution’s case due to its inability to produce witnesses in court.
However, the Lagos State Solicitor-General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), in an application dated April 13, asked the court to re-open the case.
Pedro told the court that the essence of the application was to allow the Commissioner of Police, Fari Yusuf, to complete his evidence and be cross-examined by the defence counsel.
He argued that the application was not meant to damage the case or re-open new issues but that it was necessary to allow Yusuf to conclude his evidence.
Opposing the application, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, urged the court to dismiss the application, adding that the prosecution held the court to ransom for more than four months.
Ojo further accused the prosecution of prosecution lethargy due to ignorance and sheer mischief.
He said the prosecution had failed to place before the court any legal authority for it to exercise its discretion in its favour.
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