The trial involving the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and five retired senior police officers accused of age falsification has suffered another delay.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Prosecution Counsel Rimamsonte Ezekiel informed the court that despite three previous adjournments, the defendants — Benneth Igwe, Simon Lough, Idowu Owohunwa, Ukachi Opara, and Obo Ukam — failed to appear. The accused are facing a 14-count charge alongside others who remain at large.
Ezekiel urged the court to either proceed in their absence or issue a bench warrant for their arrest.
However, Justice Yusuf Halilu rejected the request, ruling that since the defendants were granted administrative bail by the police, the responsibility to produce them in court lay with the police.
Defence counsel, Terkaa Aondo (SAN), argued that his clients had not yet been served with the charges, adding that he had already filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the case.
Justice Halilu ruled that the court would not hear the objection until the defendants appeared in person, advising the defence to ensure their attendance at the next sitting.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to 17 November for the defendants’ arraignment.