The terrorism, attempted murder, and malicious damage trial involving Mr. Mike Nwaukoni and four others was stalled once again at the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, due to the absence of the prosecution team from Abuja.
The prosecution team had arrived in Asaba on June 2, 2025, for the scheduled commencement of the trial in Suit No. FHC/ASB/18C/2024. However, they returned to Abuja after it was confirmed that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had commenced an indefinite nationwide strike on June 3, 2025, effectively halting court proceedings across the country.
Unaware that the strike had been abruptly called off late on the evening of June 4, 2025, the prosecution team remained in Abuja and did not attend the proceedings on June 4th.
During the session, counsel to the 5th defendant, Mr. Mike Nwaukoni, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Efe Akpofure, made an oral application for bail. The presiding judge, Honourable Justice Olufunmilola Agbaje, rejected the application, stating that the administrative bail earlier granted to the 5th defendant would remain valid until the next adjourned date.
The judge’s decision to refuse the bail application in the absence of the prosecution was widely seen as appropriate, particularly considering the gravity of the allegations and the weight of evidence already before the court.
Observers described the bail request as an attempt to exploit the absence of the prosecution—a move the court rightly declined to entertain.
Justice Agbaje adjourned the matter to July 23, 2025, with orders for both sides to serve all outstanding processes before that date.
Despite the prosecution’s absence, all five defendants—Francis Okolie, Esq. (National Legal Adviser of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association), Prince Eugene Ojo Izediunor, John Nwona (Agidiase Youth President), Mazi Adigwe Eleumunor (Secretary-General of ODA), and Mike Nwaukoni—were present in court and expressed readiness to proceed with the trial.
The trial could not proceed further due to the unavoidable absence of the prosecuting team.
