The trial of detained journalist, Jones Abiri before a Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja stalled yesterday after the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce their witnesses.
Abiri was last Friday arraigned alongside Collins Trueman Opumei, an aide to Bayelsa State Governor. They were accused in a one-count charge for alleged criminal intimidation.
The DSS said Abiri sent threat text messages to Nigerian AGIP Oil Company and Shell Development Company purportedly claiming N250 million from them. But he denied the charge.
At the resumed hearing, DSS counsel, Jamilu Hamisu requested for an adjournment to August 16 to enable him produce witnesses to tender evidence against the defendants.
Counsel to Abiri, Bala Dakum, whose earlier objection to the adjournment, was dismissed by the magistrate, however applied to vary the bail conditions earlier granted his client, which he said had not been fulfilled.
The defendants have been remanded at the Prisons in Keffi pending fulfilment of their bail terms.
The magistrate fixed August 8 for variation of the bail terms and August 16 for trial.
