The trial of 11 defendants accused of causing the death of ARISE News anchor, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, was stalled on Monday at the High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja, following their absence in court.
The defendants were not produced at the resumed hearing despite their legal representatives being present.
Prosecution counsel, Adama Musa, told the court that officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service said they were unaware of the hearing date.
Mr Musa informed the court that the prosecution had four witnesses present and ready to testify, adding that arrangements had been made to ensure their attendance.
“On the part of the prosecution, we are in court with four witnesses whom we went the extra mile to ensure are present; they abandoned their offices and are in court today,” he said.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, adjourned the matter to Tuesday, February 10, and urged the witnesses to return on the adjourned date.
He also ordered that a formal hearing notice be issued to the Nigerian Correctional Service to ensure the defendants are produced at the next sitting.
The defendants were arraigned on January 21, on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable by death.
The court had earlier fixed February 9, 10 and 12 for trial.
Those charged are Shamsu Hassan, Sani Surajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamosi, Zaradeen Mohammed, Musa Umar, Mashikur Jamil, Suleiman Sani and Abubakar Usman.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges at their arraignment.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly carried out an armed robbery at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Abuja, on September 29, 2025.
They were accused of breaking into the premises while armed with firearms, machetes, knives and charms.
The prosecution alleged that Maduagwu was forced to jump from a three-storey building during the incident, leading to injuries that resulted in her death.
A security guard, Barnabas Danlami, was also said to have been shot during the robbery and later died from his injuries.
The defendants were further accused of robbing several residents of the apartment complex.
Items allegedly taken include a Lenovo laptop, N80,000 cash, mobile phones and a white Honda CRV from Fatou Toborteh; a Samsung S25 phone and a MacBook Air valued at N5.2 million from Sani Yusuf and mobile phones and a laptop from David Osas.
Another resident, Onah George, was reportedly robbed of an iPhone 14, an iPad and an Amazon Kardon speaker after being threatened with death.
The prosecution said the defendants were later arrested between September 29 and October 20, 2025 and were found in possession of a pump-action gun and a fabricated AK-47 rifle without licences.
The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 6(a)(b)(c) and 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 1997 and Section 221 of the Penal Code.
Counsel for both the prosecution and the defence declined to comment to journalists after the court session.
