Disagreement over services of documents from prosecution to defence stalled the trial of the former Lagos attorney-general, Olasupo Shasore (SAN over alleged $200,000 corrupt offers before a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Monday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on October 21, last year, arraigned the former attorney-general on a two-count charge bordering on corrupt offers. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resume of the trial, Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case after the lead defence counsel, Chijioke Okoli, SAN, sought for the adjournment pending the sorting out of the issue of the disputed documents.
Okoli told the court that defence had filed an application dated December 2, to seek for an adjournment, adding that there was a need for adjournment because defence needed more documents from the prosecution to defend their case.
The EFCC counsel, Bala Sanga, had informed the court that he was ready to proceed with trial as that was the business of the day.
Justice Dada however granted the prayer of the defence and adjourned till Tuesday.
Appearing before the court on Tuesday, Shahore counsel, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire, informed the court that the prosecutor is yet to oblige them with the documents they requested for at the last adjourned date.
He noted that the defence would need those documents to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charges.
In a counter response, the EFCC Counsel, Bala Sanga, told the court that they had served the defence with the requested document, while showing the court the proof of service.
The judge who confirmed that the proof of service was not in the court file, urged the prosecutor to file an affidavit of service.
Subsequently, the matter was adjourned till June 20, for trial.
