The trial of Air Commodore Umar Mohammed (rtd), was on Thursday stalled due to the ill health of the prosecutor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mohammed is a retired Air Force officer and a former member, presidential team investigating the arms deal in the country.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Hassan Liman (SAN), counsel to Mohammed told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the prosecuting counsel, Mr Shuaibu Labaran phoned him and asked that the matter be stood down.
“Labaran asked that the matter be stood down to 2 p.m because he was attending an emergency medical appointment.”
Liman, however, prayed the court to rather adjourn the matter in order to give the prosecutor ample time to attend to his health.
He also informed the court that sequel to his client’s medical trip to South Africa in March, his client’s doctors asked him to return for further checkup on June 3.
“Pursuant to the order made by the court, he was seen by his doctors in South Africa on March 13 .
“And due to the long absence from further medical attention due to his detention for six months, the doctors advised that he returns for further checks on June 3.”
He urged the court to take into consideration an earlier order it made that the defendant must be medically fit to stand trial.
The judge, Justice John Tsoho adjourned the matter until July 4 for continuation of trial.
NAN reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) had in July 2016 arraigned Mohammed over allegations of money laundering, possession of firearms and violation of official secret act.
The subject matter of the charge was principally the sum of$1.30 million whose naira equivalent was about N400m. (NAN)
