…as absence of IPOB leader stalls trial
The defence lead counsel in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has told the Federal High Court, Abuja, he was authoritatively informed that Kanu had been taken out of the jurisdiction of the court.
He particularly complained that the prosecution denied him and relatives of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) the opportunity to see him for 10 days.
Kanu, who had initially jumped bail, was later arrested by suspected agents of the federal government in Kenya, and bundled to Nigeria, where he is currently on trial for treason and other charges.
When the matter came up at about 11:10am, Kanu was conspicuously absent in court for trial.
Ejiofor thus gave the outcry on the whereabouts of his client, as he reacted to the prosecution counsel, Mr Mohammed Abubukar’s submission on the latter’s readiness to proceed with the trial, without the defendant in court.
He also drew the attention of the court to an application earlier filed, seeking the transfer of Kanu from the Department of State Security custody to a correctional centre.
“I was informed authoritatively, I am speaking from the bar, that Nnamdi Kanu has been taken out of jurisdiction of this court.
“We have been denied access to Kanu in the last 10 days.
“We are worried about his safety and don’t know why the Federal Government refused to bring him in court,” Ejiofor complained.
Meanwhile, the prosecution counsel, Abubakar, also told Justice Binta Nyako that the latter had no fiat from the Chief Judge to continue the trial of the IPOB leader.
Abubakar averred that since the court commenced its annual vacation on July 26, it followed that a ‘vacation judge’ should step up to hear the trial.
“I want to draw the attention of the court that the court’s annual vacation for judges has commenced.
“This is no fiat from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for this court to continue with the trial of the defendant.
“We don’t know if this court can be able to continue.
“I don’t think in the absence of a fiat from the Chief Judge, that we can be able to continue,” Abubakar argued.
In her ruling, Nyako held that the trial of Kanu could not proceed in the absence of the accused person, having been arrested and brought into the country.
She insisted that Kanu must physically be brought to court since he was now available to face his trial.
The court thus urged the prosecution to ensure that Kanu is brought to court to witness his trial.
She, therefore, adjourned to October 21 for continuation of the case.