Terrorism: Absence of Keyamo stalls Okah's trial

The absence of Lagos based human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja, today stalled trial of suspected mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bomb blast in the Federal Capital Territory, Charles Okah.

Consequently, his junior in chamber, John Ainetor asked the court for a short adjournment to enable Keyamo attend the interview of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) which was scheduled today and tomorrow (Wednesday).

But in a stiff opposition, the prayer for adjournment was objected to by the prosecuting counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), who insisted that Keyamo’s
letter requesting adjournment was, "in bad faith."

Izinyon also said Keyamo had only attended the proceedings once, so Ainetor, who had always appeared for the accused persons in the suit, was qualified to continue the case.

The senior lawyer then described the application for adjournment as, "a make-up and strategy," to further delay the trial.

In his ruling, Justice Kolawole expressed displeasure over the conduct of Keyamo in the case. According to the judge, "I can only wish him (Keyamo) good luck. In the event that he succeeds, as I wish he does, it is my wish and expectation that he will realise and assume the great burden all Senior Advocates of Nigeria are required to shoulder in assisting positively, the administration of justice in Nigeria.

"The record of the applications so far made by his chamber does not bear eloquent testimony to this demand." While granting the application, the trial court held that he was constrained by other official duties he needed to attended to, and to avoid the impression that the court was interested in scuttling Keyamo’s appearance before the LPPC.

"I rarely do not want the impression to be created that decision to move on was to scuttle the attendance of Mr. Festus Keyamo before the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee for his interview which is slated for Tuesday and Wednesday," the judge added. The matter has been adjourned till October 7.

Okah, a brother to former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Henry Okah, is being tried alongside Obi Nwabueze for the bomb attack near the Eagle Square in Abuja. About 12 persons were said to have died in the attack.