The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services, DSS, to allow the leader of the proscribed IPOB group, Nnamdi Kanu to have maximum possible comfort while in their custody.
The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako who gave the order today, also ordered the DSS to allow Nnamdi Kanu to have a change of clothes, give him medical attention and allow him to practice his faith noting that, the matter for the day, was for abridgment of time. The judge also brought further hearing of the case forward by a day, January 18, 2022, from the initial date of January 19 for a hearing of pending applications which includes the jurisdiction of the court and competence of the charge.
The shift in the trial date follows the abridgment of time granted by the Judge after a plea to that effect. Meanwhile, Kanu’s Counsel, 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 January 19. But Counsel to the Federal Government, Shuaib Labaran however told the court that a counter affidavit opposing the request by the Federal Government has been filed and served on Kanu.
Similarly, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami says it is premature to pardon Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, adding that the IPOB leader is still standing trial for terrorism-related charges.
Malami revealed this during a TV current affairs programme on Wednesday. The AGF’s comment comes as Kanu is scheduled to appear before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Today.
Justice Nyako had on November 10, 2021, adjourned the trial of Kanu till January 19 and 20, 2022, for trial but the court granted an abridgement of time after a motion was filed in that respect. It would be recalled that some respected Igbo elders, led by Minister of Aviation in the First Republic, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, on November 19, visited the President, Muhammadu Buhari and requested the unconditional release of the detained secessionist leader.
Chidozie Chima | September 20, 2024
