The absence of a trial judge on Friday stalled the trial of Dr. John Idumange, who raised an alarm over the alleged diversion of a N3 billion Agriculture loans by government officials.
The court registrar informed parties that Justice Iniekenimi Uzakah, with Bayelsa Chief Judge Justice Kate Abiri.
The court clerks subsequently fixed Nov. 22 for the continuation of the trial.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Bayelsa, Biriyai Sambo, SAN, filed a suit against Idumange for misdemeanor and seditious publications against government officials.
AMagistrates’ Court had on March 11 in Yenagoa, ordered Idumange’s detention for 30 days, pending a police investigation.
Alleged N3bn diversion: Absence of defense counsel stalls ‘whistle blower’s trial
Idumange, who alleged that officials of the Bayelsa government had diverted an N3 billion Agric loan and subsequently submitted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was arrested on March 10.
Some officials of the state government had reported to the police that Idumange had made seditious publications that maligned their persons in his claims.
However, the State High Court, Sagbama Division, granted bail to Idumange, who was also an aide on Research and Documentation and later Social Media to former Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson.
The case, earlier assigned to Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, was reassigned to Justice Uzakah
