Following an application made by Maina, requesting the court for a transfer of the hearing of his case to another Judge, Justice Okon Abang, of the Federal High Court on Wednesday, has denied this application.
Maina had been arraigned before the Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the 25th of October sequel to his arrest at the airport, on a 12 count charge of money laundering and fraud.
At his arraignment, Justice Okon Abang had complained of the manner in which Maina starred at him while he wad preparing a ruling on his bail application, instructing the court clerk to caution him.
Bothering on the judge’s remarks, Maina through his counsel, Joe Gadzama (SAN), made an application for a transfer of his case to a new judge, stating that he had no confidence in Justice Abang.
After denying Maina the privilege to speak from the dock, Joe Gadzama said to the judge,
“The 1st defendant told me that I should tell the court that on October 25, this month he was before the court and while the proceedings were going on, the judge asked him not to look at him.
“And he wondered why he should not look at him since he was not the only one that appeared before the court that day.”
He added that his client had developed high blood pressure over the fear that A sentimental judge might be presiding over his case and may convict him based on sentiments.
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Responding to Maina, the judge pointed out that he had no sentimental feeling towards the defendant and that his remark was a mere caution.
He added,
“There was a day a witness was about entering the court dock and he started adjusting his trousers. He looked at me and adjusted his trousers.
“I told him ‘don’t adjust your trousers; don’t touch your trousers again because I don’t know what is inside the trousers’. So I merely advised the defendant not to look at the court.”
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