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For the second time in one week, the trial of eleven suspects linked to the killing of ARISE News correspondent, Somtochukwu Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami has stalled again at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi. Abuja.
Proceedings on the trial on Thursday got stalled owing to the absence of the lead prosecutor, Adama Musa in Court.
The lead prosecutor billed to lead witnesses in giving evidence in the trial of the accused persons was said to be engaged in another criminal case at a sister court in Apo.
This prompted the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris to shift further proceedings to April.
This marks the second delay in three days, the first being on Monday when officials of the Kuje prison authority could not produce the defendants in court on the excuse of not being aware of the trial date.
Justice Idris has now fixed April 21, 22, and 23 for continuation of trial, expressing hope that the prosecution will close its case by then and that judgment could be delivered before year’s end.
All eleven defendants, including Shamsu Hassan and ten others charged with killing of the Journalist had pleaded not guilty to nine counts of conspiracy, robbery and murder.
The charges stemmed from a violent robbery on September 29, 2025, at Unique Apartments in Katampe Extension, Abuja, where Maduagwu and Danlami were killed.
Trial of robbery suspects in killing of ARISE Reporter, Somtochukwu Maduagwu stalled again
