Judge’s absence stalls Wadume’s ‘terrorism’ trial

The trial of Hamisu Bala, suspected kidnap kingpin better known as Wadume, has been stalled owing to the absence of Binta Nyako, the presiding judge.

The case was scheduled to come up on Tuesday for the continuation of trial.

However, the court registrar informed lawyers and litigants that the judge was attending a meeting and would not be available to preside over any case.

The case was then adjourned till Monday, July 13, 2020.

An attempt to arrest Wadume had led to the killing of three policemen and a civilian in Taraba state on August 16, 2019.

Wadume was charged alongside Aliyu Dadje (a police inspector), Auwalu Bala (aka omo razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu), Bashir Wazlri (aka baba runs), Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul.

They are being prosecuted by the office of the attorney-general of the federation on a 12-count charge of terrorism.

At the last adjourned date, the judge denied the defendants’ bail application and ordered that they be remanded in Kuje prison.

Nyako had also directed the comptroller-general of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) to ensure that medical services are available to the defendants, and that they have unhindered access to their lawyers.