Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, has adjourned the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Wednesday, January 20, 2022.
The trial was adjourned following Kanu querying the manner and way in which the 15 count charges placed on him by the Federal Government was served.
Recall that the amended charges was served on Monday, January 18, 2022 against today’s hearing where Kanu was expected to take a fresh plea on the charges.
Taking the floor, the lead counsel representing Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), argued that the federal government has breached the principle of fair hearing with the way and manner the new charge was brought to them.
He regretted that the Department of States Service stripped him naked before he could see Kanu in detention while urging the court to adjourn the matter till tomorrow, Tuesday, January 19 to allow the counsels look into the fresh charges.
“My Lord, the proposed amended charges were served on us yesterday evening. As I speak to you my lord, the defendant, who was just brought in, has not even seen the charges which he is being told to enter his plea.
“With due respect, that is not justice. It is ambushing. I know that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, allows FG to amend, but this is the sixth amendment they are making, and each time they do it, they serve us a day to the hearing, just to frustrate the trial”.
“My Lord, as I am talking now, Kanu does not know the charge yet. He is just interacting with me. He cannot be made to take a plea to charges he has not seen.
“The principle of fair hearing is just being violated by the Federal Government. The frail-looking Kanu standing in the dock there has not been allowed to access his family as directed by this honourable court”.
“I went to DSS to see him and I was almost stripped naked before I could see him.
“We pray that the arraignment is adjourned till tomorrow to enable his lawyers to study the new charge along with him in the interest of justice.”
The request for adjournment was not opposed by Mr Shuaib Labaran who stood for the Federal Government.
