Borishade, two others to appear in court Tuesday

An Abuja High Court on Monday ordered Babalola Borishade, a former minister of Aviation to appear before it unfailingly on Tuesday.

Justice Abubakar Umar gave the order, after Borishade, Tunde Dairo and Rowland Iyayi, a former managing director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency failed to attend their trial.

When the matter was called at the resumed hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Counsel, Mr. Daniel Penda, told the court that the counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, had served him with a letter seeking for an adjournment.

He said the adjournment was sought to allow Borishade attend the birthday ceremony of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

Penda told the court that only the fourth accused, George Eider, the Managing Director, Avsatel Communications Limited, who is standing trial alongside Borisade, was in court.

Umar, who frowned at the absence of the accused persons and their counsel, said they were disrespectful to the court.

“The counsel should have come to court to explain the absence of the accused persons. But he chose not to.

“This is highly disrespectful. I am ordering that the three accused persons and their counsel appear in court unfailingly on Tuesday, July 9,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the judge as saying on Monday.

NAN reports that Borisade is standing trial alongside Iyayi, Dairo and Eider, an Australian over the alleged mismanagement of the N5.2 billion Aviation Safe Tower contract.

They were arraigned by the EFCC on a 15-count charge of bribe-taking and forging aviation contract documents on November 19, 2009.