Murder: Defence counsel’s absence stalls trial of ex-policeman

The trial of a dismissed policeman, Haruna Ocheni, was stalled at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court over the absence of a defence counsel, Gabriel Salifu.
The police charged Mr Ocheni with culpable homicide.
He pleaded not guilty.
At the resumed trial on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, Adama Musa, told the court that the defence counsel was in court earlier but complained of feeling ill and dizzy and that he would be unable to conduct the day’s proceedings.
Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter until July 5 for a hearing.
The police alleged that the officer shot a 17-year-old boy to death in his father’s house in March 2020. The father of the deceased, Gabriel Chikezie, a commercial driver testified in court in June 2021.
(NAN)
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