The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed the trial of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, on amended charges of treasonable felony and conspiracy to hold on Thursday, March 11, 2020.

READ ALSO: Court Orders Sowore’s Re-Arraignment

The defendants were rearraigned on Thursday but could not proceed to trial as scheduled on the basis that the prosecution had yet to serve the defense copies of the electronic video CDs it intended to rely on.

The judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who noted that she had long issued the order for the service of the materials on the defendants, however, acceded to the prosecution’s request for two weeks to compile the materials and have them served to the defense.

The prosecuting counsel from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Aminu Alilu, while responding to the request for the VCDs by defence counsel, Mr Abdul Mahmud, said the AGF which newly took over the case from the Department of State Services was not aware of the court’s order for the service of the materials on the defense.

He assured the court that the prosecution was much ready for the case and would present its witnesses within four days.

The judge fixed March 11 to 13 for trial.

Juliet Ekwebelam