by Akintomiwa Agbaje

The re-trial of the former governor of Bayelsa state, Timpriye Sylva that was to hold yesterday has been stalled.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed a 42-count criminal charge on Sylva with six others over alleged laundering of N19.2 billion. The case before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja  was held off because of non service of hearing notice on Sylva.

Consequently the trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed adjourned the case till January 23, 2014.

‘The Tribune reports:

Those charged along Sylva are Francis Okekuro, Gbenga Balogun, Samuel Buku, Maritime Limited, Eat Catering Services Limited and Halowen Blue Construct limited as second to seventh defendants respectively.

When the matter was called, the third and fourth accused were already in the dock with the absence of Sylva and the second accused.

The second accused, Francis Okekuro, had written through his counsel notifying the court of ill health.

Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, however, notified the court that the first accused, Sylva, was present within the premises of the court but had refused to enter the court room to take his plea.

He further submitted that such action should be termed as rudeness to the authority of the court.

Annoyed with the submission of Jacobs, counsel for Sylva, Lateef Fagbemi, replied that, “Rotimi, you are rude, the fact that you are handling EFCC’s brief does not mean that you should not know your senior. We are not here for political rally.”

Visibly infuriated by the comments of the two senior counsel, Justice Mohammed said: “it is very unfortunate that two of you senior lawyers could be insulting yourselves before the court. I take it as an affront to my authority. You are desecrating this profession.”