The ongoing industrial action by organised labour on Wednesday stalled the trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja, on criminal charges of economic sabotage, abuse of public office and breach of trust.
Although the trial was fixed for Wednesday, the entrance gates into court complex were put under lock and key by officials of the NLC monitoring and enforcing the strike action.
All lawyers and litigants were turned back at the main entrance gate by the Labour team.
A Registrar with the Court who craved anonymity confirmed that Justice Hamza Muazu would not sit today because of the effect of the workers strike.
Also, one of the lawyers in Emefiele’s defense team, Maxwell Opara told Daily Post that the former CBN Governor had been told to stay back at home since the court room could not be accessed.
Opara said that a new date would be obtained as soon as the NLC calls off the strike action.
The office of the Attorney General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice had announced last week that Emefiele would be put on trial on November 15 despite the bail granted him by Justice Olukayode Adegbola Adeniyi also of the FCT High Court .
CouNsel to the Federal Government and AGF, Oyin Koleoso billed to conduct the trial could not be reached as he was said to have been politely turned back at the Court gate by the striking workers.
But Emefiele’s lawyer, Opara told newsmen that a new date would be pressed as soon as the strike action is called off.
“We have just told Emefiele to stay back at home since the court room could not be accessed by us and counsel to the Federal Government.
“This is not our making but the circumstances beyond our immediate control. As it is now, we will have to go back home and come for a fresh date once the striking workers terminate the strike action”, the lawyer said.
