Crimes

Kanu ‘refuses’ to appear in court, Judge adjourns trial indefinitely

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned indefinitely the trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The court hinged its decision on the alleged refusal of Kanu to present himself in court.

Kanu was scheduled to be re-arraigned by the Federal Government on Monday.

The IPOB leader is in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

He is facing an amended seven-count terrorism charges.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. M.B. Abubakar, told Justice Binta Nyako that Kanu refused to be brought before the court for trial.

Justice Nyako had enquired about the defendant after the case was called up.

A Department of State Services (DSS) lawyer, Mr. Idowu Awo, gave explanation on what transpired.

“My lord, I understand that the defendant declined to come to court today.

“As at last week, the defendant was intimated of this sitting and he did not object. However, when I called the office this morning, I was informed that the defendant woke up and declined to come to court.

“All entreaties and pleas were made but he refused to come to court,” the government lawyer told the court.

Addressing the court, Awo said though the IPOB leader did not object coming to court as at previous week, he however made a call to his office to know why Kanu had not been in court today.

“But when I called the office, they said the defendant declined to come to court and all entreaties to make him come was unsuccessful,” he said.

However, Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), described the allegation as strange.

Ozekhome, who expressed surprise at the development, said Kanu had always told him about his eagerness to appear in court following the appeal by the prosecution against the judgement of the Court of Appeal which dismissed the remaining seven counts preferred against him.

The senior lawyer therefore informed Justice Nyako about the Appeal Court judgement on October 13 which quashed the remaining seven counts against his client.

Justice Nyako consequently adjourned the matter sine die (indefinitely).

The judge also adjourned indefinitely, the fresh seven-count charge filed by the Federal Government against the IPOB leader.

Besides, the court also adjourned indefinitely an originating motion filed on October 21 by Ozekhome on Kanu’s behalf to demand for N100 billion damages against the Federal Government over alleged non-compliance with the order of the Appeal Court discharging Kanu, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before the apex court.

The Star