The trial of former Aviation Minister, Chief Babalola Borisade and three others suffered a setback on Monday following an application for adjournment by the EFCC.
Others standing trial with Borisade are the former Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Rowland Iyayi, Tunde Dairo, a former Personal Assistant to Borisade and an Australian, George Eider; the Managing Director of Avsatel Communications Ltd.
The four are standing trial over the management of the N6.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund.
They were arraigned by the EFCC on a 15-count charge, bordering on bribe-taking and forging of documents relating to aviation contract on Nov. 19, 2009.
At the resumed hearing of the case before an Abuja High Court Judge, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Sebastine Hon (SAN), asked for a short adjournment to enable him to meet with a key witness.
Hon said the key witness for the prosecution was an investigator with the EFCC, Mr Reuben Omosigbo, who took statements of the accused persons in 2009 after they were arrested.
He said that the witness (Omosigbo), who is also the investigating officer in the criminal charges against former Nasarawa State Governor Akwe Doma, had just returned to Abuja on Sunday night from Lafia.
The prosecution counsel said that he was not able to meet and discuss with the witness as at the time of the sitting because the witness was “stuck in traffic.’’
Hon, therefore, prayed the court for a “short adjournment’’ to enable him meet with the key witness.
However, counsel to Borisade, Mr Kehinde Ogunmiyiju, opposed the application for adjournment, saying that he was ready to go on.
But counsel to Iyayi, Mr Muyiwa Akinbolu did not oppose the application for a short adjournment made by the EFCC.
Also, counsel to Dairo and Eider, Mr Wale Balogun and Mr Hyeladzira Nganjiwa respectively, conceded to the short adjournment as prayed by the EFCC.
Justice Abubakar Umar, therefore, adjourned the suit to Tuesday for continuation of hearing.
Umar said that since he had given two clear days for accelerated hearing in the case, the EFCC should ensure that its witness would be ready on Tuesday.?