An Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako on Monday, adjourned the trial of Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu to October 21, following the failure of the Department of State Security (DSS) to produce Kanu in court when the hearing in the case resumed amidst tight security.
Justice Nyako while reacting upon the mentioning of the matter from her list regretted that Nnamdi Kanu, was not produced in court by the DSS, noting that nothing can be done on the case especially since, according to the claims of the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, Kanu was not in court due to ‘logistical reasons.
But the government’s Lawyer, Abubakar while affirming that the matter was slated for hearing, informed the Court that he was ready to proceed in Kanu’s absence, stating that he has three witnesses ready to testify.
The prosecution Counsel who had earlier sought the Court’s directive on whether the matter could go on, considering that the High Court has commenced its annual vacation also argued that it would be impossible to proceed with the case in the absence of a fiat from the Chief Judge of the High Court.
Justice Nyako, therefore, adjourned hearing in the case until October 21 but added however that the date can be changed at the instance of the prosecution who must obtain a directive in writing from the Court’s Chief Judge to allow proceedings during the Court holidays.
Justice Nyako also ordered the DSS to allow Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor access to his client while promising to work with prosecution and defense lawyers as well as security agencies to work out plans to grant him access to his client.
Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor counsel to Nnamdi Kanu at the beginning of the trial informed the court that he has not been able to see his client in the past eight days before the hearing date while equally arguing that it would be in the interest of justice for the Court to issue a Fiat for the trial to go on during the court’s vacation.
Expressing disappointment and fear due to the absence of Kanu in court, Ejiofor assured that Kanu will emerge victorious irrespective of the many allegations leveled against him. He also gave an update on new developments concerning paying visits to Kanu revealing that his client cannot only be visited by his lawyers as was the case before but now relatives and friends, provided there are only two persons in every of such visits.
Recall that Kanu has been standing trial on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and running of an unlawful organization.
All roads leading to the Federal High Court, in the Central Area, were blocked by armed police and military personnel while traffic was diverted to other alternative routes.
This caused untold hardship to motorists and other residents especially those who were forced to trek long distances before boarding vehicles to their destinations.
Many employees, who were caught in the chaotic traffic situation, were late to work even after security agencies had advised residents to seek alternative routes and exercise caution during the hours of the trial of the proscribed IPOB leader.
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