Absence of witness stalls trial of 5 ‘whistles blowers’ accused of conspiracy to rob Gov. Dickson
Austin Pade, Yenagoa
The trial of five ‘whistle blowers’ standing trial for conspiracy to rob Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in his hometown was stalled, on Wednesday, over absence of prosecution witness.
The accused, Esther Engbeke, Tamnatony Jacob, Engr. Wodu Ebikebomu, Emmanuel Dorgu and Sinclair Thursday were being tried for alleged conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
The accused had denied the charge and told the court that they contemplated disclosing a location where Governor Dickson stashed cash to benefit from the whistle-blowing policy of the Federal Government.
They had been in prison since their arrest in May 2018.
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At the resumed hearing, on Wednesday, the prosecuting team, led by Andrew Arthur, told the court that a prosecution witness, Insp. Ekpang Columba, slated for cross examination was absent for election duties.
Arthur said that the policeman was on a training ahead the forth-coming general elections and, therefore, urged the court to adjourn.
The judge, Justice E.T Okara, subsequently adjourned the case to February 22, for cross examination of the prosecutor’s witness by the defense counsel.
The five accused were facing trial before a Sagbama High Court sitting in Yenagoa in Charge No. SHC/9C/20188.
Columba, also the Investigating Police Officer, had testified on December 12, 2018 during the cross examination that no weapon was found on the accused when they were arrested.
