From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The Federal High Court sitting in Lafia on Thursday commenced the trial of Yusuf Mada, Nassarawa-Eggon West House of Assembly candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), for the 2023 election over alleged vandalisation of railway sleepers.
The Voice reports that the APC Assembly candidate, who is a former Special Adviser (SA) to Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State was arraigned alongside 29 others in June 2021 for allegedly committing the offence.
In her ruling, Justice Afolabi Nehizena, the trial judge adjourned the case to November 15, 16, and 17 for presentation of witnesses by the Prosecuting Counsel.
In an interview with journalists, immediately after the adjournment, Prosecuting Counsel to the Police Command in Nasarawa State, Obafemi Tijjani said already, two defendants have pleaded guilty to the amended charge before the court.
He said: “We have been prosecuting this case since last year and some new reviews came into light. All the defendants are being charged for vandalisation of railway tracks. Some of them vandalised fully, some aided the vandalism while others loaded the railway tracks but all are guilty of the crime of vandalisation.
“There was a review that was done today. We have 30 defendants but about 10 of the defendants, if we proceed, we will not be able to substantiate our case against them because there is no strong evidence.
“However, the other 20 defendants, we are proceeding against them. We have our witnesses and they were in court today. Meanwhile, two among the defendants already pleaded guilty to the amended charge before the court this morning and we are awaiting their conviction and sentence.”