IPOB: Court adjourns Kanu’s trial indefinitely

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned sine-die(indefinitely) the trial of the leader of the proscribed Indeginous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The adjournment is at the instance of Kanu as he awaits the decision of the Supreme Court on appeals that were lodged by both the Federal Government and Kanu’s defence team.

Whereas FG is challenging the Court of Appeal judgement that quashed the 15-count terrorism charge it entered against Kanu, on the other hand, the defendant, approached the apex court to query the legality of the appellate court’s decision to stay the execution of the order for his release from detention.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. M.B. Abubakar, who appeared for the government, did not oppose application by Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, for the case to be adjourned to await Supreme Court’s decision.

Ozekhome however noted that his client was yet to be served with a copy of the fresh charge FG filed against him, saying his team only heard about it from the social media.

Meanwhile, Nnamdi Kanu on Monday refused to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja in protest against the Federal Government’s refusal to obey a Court of Appeal judgment that ordered his release from detention.

The refusal to honour the high court was conveyed to Justice Binta Nyako by the Federal Government counsel, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

He informed the court that all entreaties made to persuade him to have a change of heart were rebuffed.

Kanu was said to have stood his ground not to appear in court until the October 13 judgment of the Court of Appeal is respected and obeyed by releasing him from the custody of the Department of the State Service DSS in Abuja.