Court Adjourn Nnamdi Kanu Trial To Jan 19 | Lawyers & Journalists Denied Access To Court By DSS

Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned till January 19, 2022, the trial case of detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. But there was confusion as Nnamdi Kanu’s team of lawyers staged a walkout over the refusal of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow some of them to gain access into the courtroom.

Nnamdi Kanu, who was brought into the courtroom around 9.52 AM, had shortly after his case was called up bemoaned the refusal of security agents to allow some members of his legal team, especially his lawyer from the United States of America, Bruce Fein, to enter the courtroom.

He told Justice Binta Nyako that Bruce Fein, who was handling a case for him in the US, was around to witness his trial. According to his words; “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,” Nnamdi Kanu stated from the dock.

When asked by the Judge, if he was ready to conduct the proceedings himself, in the absence of his lawyers, Nnamdi Kanu said no. Meanwhile, counsel for the Federal Government and Director of Public Prosecution, M. D. Abubakar, urged the court to proceed with the trial in the absence of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers.

He told the court that the matter was fixed for the hearing of an application that was filed by the defendant. M. D. Abubakar argued that since Nnamdi Kanu’s lead counsel, Barr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who was initially inside the courtroom, walked out with his team shortly before the arrival of the judge, his pending application should be deemed abandoned.

Delivering a short ruling, Justice Nyako expressed displeasure over the conduct of Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers. She declined to dismiss the pending application and rather adjourned the case till January 19, 2022, for the trial to continue.

Austine Ikeru
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