By Baba Sillah
Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara of High Court in Banjul yesterday gave warning to the state counsel that she will foreclose their case and allow the defence to open theirs if they fail to proceed and call their next witness in the trial of the former NIA 9 officials.
The warning came after state counsel Awulu Yakubu who stepped in for the deputy director of public prosecution, MB Abubacarr applied for another adjournment, which did not go down well with the defence lawyers.
According to the state counsel, he was not aware that the matter was set for hearing and that was the reason he did not call a witness to testify and consequently applied for a short adjournment to enable them to call their next witness.
However, a team of defence lawyers led by barrister Christopher Mene objected to the adjournment arguing that any further adjournment will be scandalous at this moment.
Mene argued that the state application for adjournment has no merit even though adjournment is at the discretion of the court.
In her intervention after hearing from both sides, the trial judge said it seems the state is not serious with the matter and warned that if they fail to proceed with the case, she will foreclose it and allow the other side to open their.
Justice Kumba Sillah-Camara accordingly adjourned the matter to May 29 at 12 pm for state to call their next witness.
