A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday has adjourned the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from January 19 to 18 next year.
KanyiDaily recalls that Justice Binta Nyako had on November 10 adjourned Kanu’s trial till January 19, 2022, after accusing his lawyers of staging a walkout over the refusal of the DSS to allow some of them to gain access into the courtroom.
On Wednesday, December 1, one of Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor told journalists that the court had granted his client’s application to push the hearing forward to Thursday.
During his trial on Thursday, December 2, the IPOB leader was absent as the court commenced the hearing on an application he filed to quash the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had approached the court with an application seeking an order of the court to accommodate the trial in November and December this year as against the earlier fixed January 19.
But Shuaib Labaran, who stood for the Federal Government, told the court that a counter affidavit opposing the request by the government has been filled and served on Kanu.
As the drama ensured, Justice Nyako cut in and informed Kanu’s lawyer that the application for time abridgment cannot be considered because there is no judicial time for such an issue.
The judge listed her full schedule from her case diary to the defence counsel to enable him to understand that her schedule was tight as she has other cases to attend to.
However, following the insistence by Kanu’s lawyer, Justice Nyako agreed to shift other cases slated for January 18 to accommodate the trial which will last till January 19 and 20.
Justice Nyako also ordered DSS to allow Nnamdi Kanu to practice his faith, change his clothes, and be given the maximum possible comfort in the detention facility.
KanyiDaily recalls that Nnamdi Kanu’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor had accused Justice Binta Nyako of carrying out Fulani’s bidding to jail the IPOB leader.