The Federal Government is to call additional witnesses and produce more evidence in support of its case against a senator from Borno State, Aliyu Ndume.
Ndume is standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja on allegation that he has a link with the insurgent group, Boko Haram.
The Federal Government’s plan to add fresh evidence and call more witnesses was contained in a motion filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Yesterday, a lawyer from the AGF’s office, E. Orji, urged the court to allow him file additional proof of evidence against Ndume.
“The application is intended to give the accused a fair hearing and also the right to cross-examine the witness and contradict the evidence that shall be given.
“We urge this court to grant this motion and dismiss the the accused’s counter affidavit because it is intended to clog the wheel of justice,” he said.
Ndume opposed the government’s plan and urged the court to turn down the request to file additional proof of evidence and call additional witnesses against him.
His lawyer, I. A. Kaigama, told the court that the motion will overreach the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the admission, by the trial court, of some evidence, including compact discs (CDs) and call log, earlier tendered by the prosecution.
“The motion constitutes a gross abuse of the process of the court and should be refused. The application has no fact to convince the court to grant it.
“Bringing additional evidence will amount to unfair trial for the accused,” Kaigama said.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed May 27 for ruling.
Source: The Nation
