The planned resumption of the trial of the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has been stalled owing to the refusal of the defence lawyers to participate in the proceedings.
Before the commencement of proceedings, some of the defence lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, walked out of the courtroom in protest against the refusal of the security agents to allow all members of the team, including a foreigner, into the courtroom.
When proceedings commenced a little after 10 am, Kanu, who was brought into the courtroom around 9:52 am, complained that security agents prevented some of his lawyers, particularly Bruce Fein from the United States access into the court room.
He told the court that Fein, who he said 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.
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“He has been to the DSS to see me, but they denied him access to me,” Kanu said.
When asked by the judge, Justice Binta Nyako if he would conduct his case in the absence of his lawyers, Kanu said no.
But, lead prosecuting lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, who is the Director of Public Prosecution, urged the court to proceed with the trial in the absence of Kanu’s lawyers.
Abubakar contended that since Kanu’s lead lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who was earlier granted access into the courtroom, walked out with his team shortly before the commencement of proceedings, they should blame themselves.
He noted that ordinarily, the case was fixed for the hearing of an application filed by the defendant, adding that since the defence lawyers were absent, the court should deem the application abandoned.
Ruling, Justice Nyako frowned at the conduct of Kanu’s lawyers.
The judge rejected the prosecution’s application to deem the defence’s pending application abandoned.
She elected to adjourn further proceedings tilll January 19 and 20 next year.
Details shortly…
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