Absence of defence counsel, Uche Uzukwu, at Zuba Magistrate Court, yesterday, stalled trial of three clerics, Uche Aigbe, Promise Ukachukwu and Olakunle Ogunleye, charged with illegal possession of firearm.
At the resumed trial, the Magistrate, Abdulaziz Ismail, brought to the attention of the court a letter from Uzukwu seeking an adjournment.
After notifying relevant parties that defence lawyer was away to attend to a matter at an petition election tribunal, the magistrate adjourned the matter to May 2 for hearing.
The police alleged that the defendants, all of House on the Rock, the Refuge Church, Wuye, Abuja, conspired to obtain an illegal AK47 rifle on February 12.
The prosecuting attorney, James Idachaba, said claimed the defendants got the firearm from one Inspector Musa Audu attached to Wuye Division, who was posted to the church.
He added that the defendants used the firearm for an illustration, while preaching a sermon about faith in the church.
Idachaba said the defendants made inciting and intimidating statements to the congregation that could cause alarm and breach of peace.
He maintained that the offence was punishable under Section III of the Firearms Act CAP F28, LFN 2004 and contravened Sections 97, 114 and 397 of the Penal Code.Â
