The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group that has been declared illegal by the federal government, has been postponed indefinitely by the Federal High Court of Abuja.
Justice Binta Nyako put off the trial sine die at the instance of Kanu pending the resolution of the Federal Government’s appeal against the October 13 judgment of the Court of Appeal that discharged him from the terrorism charges.
The Supreme Court is hearing the Federal Government’s appeal, which asks them to reverse the Court of Appeal ruling.
For the same reason, two additional cases that were scheduled for court hearings were also postponed indefinitely. Kanu declined to show up on Monday in front of the Federal High Court.
Justice Nyako was informed of the refusal to respect the high court by Mohammed Abubakar, counsel for the Federal Government. He told the court that Kanu had rejected all attempts to sway him to change his mind.
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Meanwhile, a group of government prosecutors under the direction of the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. M.B. Abubakar, claimed that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, had refused to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja for his scheduled re-arrest.
“My lord, I understand that the defendant declined to come to court today.
“As of 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.
“My lord, this is totally strange to me because this is a person that has never hidden his intention to always be in court. In fact, even in processes we filed at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the defendant said he would want to be present in court for the hearing of all the matters,” Kanu’s legal team head, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said.
Nnamdi Kanu is standing trial of amended seven counts of terrorism filed against him by the FG.
The court led by Justice Binta Nyako, however, adjourned the matter indefinitely.
In an update, Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said, “The court per His lordship Hon. Justice Binta Nyako is in agreement with us that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain any further charge against Kanu, in view of the landmark judgment of the Court of Appeal.
“The matter was consequently adjourned sine die pending the outcome of the appeal at the Supreme Court. We are winning! Supreme Court here we come! No going back on ONYENDU’s freedom.”
“Our appeal to set aside the order staying the execution of Onyendu’s judgment will be fixed for hearing any moment from now.
We shall keep you all posted,” he said
