Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) till January 19.
Kanu had earlier laid a complaint that security agents did not allow some members of his legal team, which included his lawyer from the United States of America, Bruce Fein, to enter the courtroom.
Speaking on the issue, Nnamdi Kanu told Justice Nyako that Fein, who was handling a case for him in the US, was around to witness his trial.
Kanu said:
“I have an ongoing case in the US. I have not been allowed to see him. He is here to see me and to observe the proceedings.
“He has been to the DSS to see me, but they denied him access to me.”
When asked by the Judge if he was ready to conduct the proceedings himself in the absence of his lawyers, his answer was no.
Mr. M. D. Abubakar, the Counsel to the FG, who happens to be the Director of Public Prosecution, urged the court to proceed with the trial in the absence of Kanu’s lawyers.
According to Abubakar, since Kanu’s lead counsel, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who was initially allowed into the courtroom, walked out with his team shortly before the judge arrived , his pending application should be deemed abandoned.
Justice Nyako expressed displeasure over the conduct of Kanu’s lawyers but she declined to dismiss the pending application, instead, she adjourned the case till January 19 and 20, 2022, for trial.
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