The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has been served notice for the commencement of the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in absentia today.
The notice dated November 24, 2020, which fixed the hearing for today, was also served on Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
Kanu is facing trial on three count-charges bordering on conspiracy to commit treasonable felony and setting up illegal broadcast stations.
Kanu’s co-defendants: Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and Chidiebere Onwudiwe have since been granted bail.
The court presided by Justice Binta Nyako had in 2019 ordered Kanu’s trial in absentia following his abscondment from the country.
Also, the court had in November 2018 ordered the arrest of Kanu’s surety, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) or the forfeiture of the sum of N300m bail bond to the Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account.
But Abaribe through his lawyer, Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume, filed an application challenging the court’s order on the grounds that the invasion of Kanu’s residence by the army in September, 2017 interfered with the bail and created the room for his escape.
