The trial of the President of
the Togolese opposition Committee of Action for Renewal
(CAR) Yawovi Agboyibo, was on Wednesday adjourned until
11 July after 50 defence lawyers rejected the presiding
judge Abalo Kpetchelebi.
Agboyibo's advocates charged that Kpetchelebi belongs
to a group backing President Gnassingbe Eyadema within the
Independent National Election Committee, in which he is also
a member.
The lawyers described Kpetchelebi as a politician,
who should not be allowed to preside over a political case.
They appealed to the president of the Supreme Court
who decided to adjourn the case for a week.
Yawovi Agboyibo is facing a libel case filed by
the Togolese Prime Minister Messan Agbeyome Kodjo.
Last year, the CAR leader had accused Kodjo of
running a militia group that was causing violence
in Yoto prefecture, where both politicians come from
home.
