Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ade Dayo Adeyeye, has confirmed that the prosecution has amended the charge against his clients by removing the allegation of terrorism financing and limiting the case to a five-count charge related to possession of firearms.
Speaking after the court session, Adeyeye explained that although the matter had earlier been scheduled for the commencement of trial, the defence was served with an amended charge on the morning of the hearing.
According to him, the revised charge expunged the terrorism-financing component and now focuses solely on alleged firearms possession.
He stated that the five-count charge was read to the defendants in court and that they pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Adeyeye noted that the prosecution has the legal authority to amend charges at any stage of proceedings and described the development as part of its discretion under the law.
He added that the defence team would carefully study the amended charge and prepare for trial on the scheduled date.
“We are hopeful that at the end of the day, they will be discharged and acquitted in respect of the five-count charge,” he said.
Adeyeye also explained that the prosecution retains the right to further review its strategy and introduce additional counts if necessary during the course of the case.
“For now, the five-count charge is what we have, and that is what the prosecution will proceed with,” he added.
