The panel hearing the seven-count charge against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has again adjourned the trial of the accused.
What happened in court
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers headed by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, urged the court to strike the charges against the IPOB leader as they were baseless. Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) claimed that Nnamdi Kanu abided by the terms of the earlier bail until agents of the federal government forcefully ejected from his home when they attacked his residence in 2017.
- On the other hand, the Federal Government, represented by its lawyer, Mr. David Kaswe, argued that after the accused fled the country, it took the country time and vast resources to arrest him and return the accused to the country.
Mr. David Kaswe partly said, “it is only after FG has produced all its witnesses and tendered its evidence that the Appellant could claim that no prima-facie case was established. Finally, we urge this court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit.”
What you should know
The federal government initially filed a 15-count charge bordering on terrorism and treason against Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. Following a legal appeal by Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers on the merit of the charges, the court struck out eight charges, bringing the charges against the accused to seven.
A court ruling by Justice Binta Nyako has on several sitting denied Nnamdi Kanu bail on the premise that the accused fled the country after he was granted bail the first time.
Why it matters
The extension of the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would further affect the economy of the southeast region, seeing that the five southeastern states observe a mandatory sit at home order whenever the IPOB leader appears in court. The sit at home order halts all activities across the five states for a day.