The trial of the Leader and Spokesman of the Conscience of Ogoni People, Chief Gani Topba, has suffered another setback before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Topba is facing a four-count charge bordering on cybercrime, terrorism and other offences filed against him by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services, DSS.
The matter, which was scheduled for hearing on his bail application, could not be listed on the court’s cause list following a change in the judge handling the case.
The case was initially before Justice Mohammed Turaki, who had already presided over the defendant’s plea and adjourned the matter for the hearing of the bail application, pending approval by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
However, the case was subsequently transferred to another vacation judge, a development that reportedly did not go down well with the defendant’s legal representatives.
Following the development, the DSS was directed to return the defendant to custody.
No fresh date was fixed for the matter.
