The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, faced the possibility of indefinite adjournment at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Justice Binta Nyako expressed her readiness to adjourn the trial indefinitely after Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, informed the court that the defense team was not prepared for the trial.
The development arose following assertions from Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, representing the Federal Government, that the prosecution was ready for trial as per the court’s previous order.
Earlier, Justice Nyako had considered two pending applications filed by Ejimakor on Kanu’s behalf. The first sought to reinstate Kanu’s revoked bail from 2017, while the second requested Kanu’s transfer to house arrest.
Ejimakor argued that Kanu’s bail revocation resulted from the prosecution’s invasion of his client’s home and maintained that Kanu did not breach bail conditions but fled for safety, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Awomolo contested Ejimakor’s assertions, stating that the court lacked jurisdiction to vacate the earlier revocation order. He emphasized that Kanu was facing terrorism charges, not money laundering, and urged the court to dismiss the application for house arrest, citing lack of verifiable evidence.
Justice Nyako scheduled May 20 for ruling on the applications and directed the prosecution to call their witness.
Despite Awomolo’s readiness to proceed, Ejimakor insisted they were unprepared due to lack of access to Kanu and invoked Section 36(6) of the constitution.
Facing the threat of indefinite adjournment, Ejimakor requested a brief recess to consult with Kanu and other lawyers. Justice Nyako granted a 10-minute stand down to reconsider the trial’s continuation.
The trial’s uncertain trajectory underscores the legal complexities surrounding Kanu’s case and the broader implications for his defense team in navigating procedural challenges while advocating for their client’s rights and interests.