Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), refused to take his plea in the 15-count terrorism charges instituted against him by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday 18th of January 2022.
Through his lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Kanu alleged that the government has breached the principle of fair hearing with the way and manner the new charge was brought to them.
He argued that that the fresh charge was the sixth in the series adding that his client cannot proceed to take a plea in the charges he has not studied to prepare for defence as required by law.
He said that Kanu has no idea of the charge yet and cannot be made to take a plea to charges he has not seen.
He also said that Kanu has not been allowed to access his family as directed by the honourable court while also claiming that even at the DSS office , he was almost stripped naked before he could see Kanu
He prayed that the arraignment be adjourned till Wednesday, 19th of January 2022 to enable his lawyers study the new charges along with him in the interest of justice.
Meeting no opposition for the adjournment by Mr Shuaib Labaran who stood for the Federal Government, Justice Binta Nyako fixed today, Wednesday 19th January for the arraignment.
The judge also ordered that Kanu and his lawyers be allowed to have an interface in the courtroom before taking him to DSS custody.
Following the request for the foreign lawyer to be allowed into the court, the judge declined saying that for a foreign lawyer, Mr Bruce Fein, be allowed into the courtroom to observe the trial, the request would be granted upon a written application and approval by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
Meanwhile, the Federal high Court judge, Binta Nyako, has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to change his clothes.
Earlier , Nyako had directed the DSS to allow the IPOB leader to have a bath whenever he wants to, change his clothes, eat properly and practice his faith.
Contrary to the directive, at the court session on Tuesday, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, complained that his client is still being subjected to poor treatment in DSS custody as he is still being kept in solitary confinement and that any other detainee who greets him is also kept in solitary confinement.
Reminding the defendant that a detention facility is not a five-star hotel, Justice Nyako upheld her previous order that the IPOB leader should be allowed the maximum comfort possible, including changing his Fendi outfit with which he was brought back into the country in June 2021.
She also advised that they should allow him to exercise.
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