The absence of Osarenkhoe Afe, the second defendant in the ongoing trial of former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye, Monday stalled proceedings at the Federal High Court Abuja.
Orosanye is standing trial alongside Afe and his company on charges bordering on fraud.
At the resumed trial, counsel to Afe, Mr Oluwole Aladedoye, attributed his client’s absence in court to closure of airports on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Aladeloye, his client has never missed proceedings before now.
He said, “Going by the court’s records, my client has never missed proceedings but because the airports are still closed, he is unable to fly from Lagos to Abuja.
” He wanted to come by road but only recently we heard that 18 passengers on a bus coming to Abuja from Lagos were kidnapped so it is not safe.
“He needs to be alive to defend himself and since the airports are opening soon, he is making efforts to book a flight to Abuja,” Aladedoye explained further.
However, since no objection was raised by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe, the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter until July 21 for continuation of trial.
