Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, has adjourned the trial of detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to January 19, 2022.
The judge adjourned the matter after Kanu’s legal team , staged a walk out over the refusal of Department of State Services (DSS) operatives to allow some of his access into the courtroom.
The detained leader of the secessionist group who was brought into the courtroom at about 9:52 am, had shortly after his case was called up, decried the refusal of security agents to allow some members of his legal team, especially his lawyer, who he said came from the United States of America, Bruce Fein, to enter the courtroom.
Kanu told the judge that Fein, was in Nigeria to witness his trial.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Mohamed Abubakar, who is also counsel to FG, urged the court to proceed with the trial in Kanu’s lawyers’ absence.
Abubakar noted the matter was fixed today for a hearing of an application that brought by the defendant.
The prosecution counsel, noted that Kanu’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, was initially in the courtroom, but walked out with his team just before the arrival of the judge. He therefore reasoned that his pending application should be deemed abandoned.
Ruling, Justice Nyako expressed her displeasure over the conduct of Kanu’s lawyers but however refrained from dismissing the pending application. The judge thereafter adjourned the case till January 19 and 20, 2022, for trial.
Kanu was charged with terrorism, treason and perpetuation of falsehoods against President Muhammadu Buhari, through broadcasts on the controversial Radio Biafra outlet and also through social media.
The Federal Government of Nigeria had accused Kanu, of using Radio Biafra to instigate violence that led to the death of at least 175 security personnel and several other citizens.
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, made the allegation at a recent news briefing in Abuja.
He alleged that Kanu also used the online station to incite members of the group to commit violent attacks against civil and democratic institutions across the country, especially in the South East.
According to Malami, such assaults include attacks on security personnel, police stations, security formations, and the destruction of properties of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and private citizens.
He said 175 security operatives – 128 policemen, 37 military personnel, and 10 other security operatives – were killed in the attacks.