The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, did not appear in a federal high court in Abuja on Monday.
Kanu is being tried for terrorism-related offenses.
Kanu declined to show up in court, according to Mohammed Abubakar, the prosecution attorney from the attorney general’s office, when the case was called.
Kanu woke up and refused to appear in court, according to I. Awo, the Department of State Security’s (DSS) legal representative.
According to Awo, the defendant was informed of today’s court appearance.
He “woke up this morning and complained that he was not going to come to court,” according to the office, which I phoned to find out why.
Kanu’s attorney, Mike Ozekhome, claimed that the last time he communicated with his client, the IPOB leader indicated excitement about appearing in court.
Therefore, he stated, “We are startled that the same person has declined to appear in court.”
The matter was deferred so that parties in the action may report on the state of the case, according to Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, therefore the accused person’s attendance was not required for the day’s proceedings.
The case was postponed indefinitely until the resolution of the appeals after the parties briefed the court on the decision of the court of appeal and ongoing appeals at the supreme court.
On April 8, the trial court dismissed eight of the charge’s fifteen counts.
On October 13, the court of appeal subsequently invalidated the remaining seven counts.
A three-member panel of the appellate court chaired by Hanatu Sankey rendered decision in the appeal and found that the federal government had violated the respondent’s rights by violating international agreements and treaties and the Terrorism Act.
The trial court was further declared to lack jurisdiction to continue Kanu’s trial due to the unlawful and forced rendition of the appellant.
The IPOB leader has not yet been released by the federal authorities.
Instead, it appealed the decision of the appeals court to the Supreme Court.
Additionally, it submitted a request to halt the judgment of the appeal court from taking effect.
The court of appeal decided the application and agreed to the government’s request.
Kanu has also appealed his imprisonment and filed a second cross-appeal with the top court.
TheCable
