Akwa Ibom senator’s N240 million money laundering trial stalled

The money laundering trial of Senator Obong Albert Bassey before Justice Agatha A. Okeke of the Federal High Court, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State was stalled on October 21, 2021.

This followed the absence of the Senator’s counsel, Solomon Umoh (SAN), in court on Thursday, October 21, 2021.

Aniema Etuk, who held the brief of the lead defence counsel, informed the court that the learned silk was sick and couldn’t make it to court.

Etuk further told the court he was ill-prepared to precede with the matter as he did not have the facts of the case.

He offered to withdraw from the matter.

But the prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, opposed the request of the defence and urged the court to dismiss the same on the grounds that the defence had continuously come up with excuses to delay the trial.

After listening to the arguments of counsel, Justice Okeke refused the application of the defence, citing the provision of section 349(8) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act, which requires the defence to inform the court at least three days before such withdrawal.

The Judge, therefore, ordered the defendant to enter the dock and open his defence.

But Bassey pleaded with the court to adjourn to October 22 to enable him to come to court with another lawyer.

He said: “My lord, I don’t want to work with this counsel.