*IPOB Leader Tackles FG Lawyer
A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja, on Monday, May 20, ordered leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to enter his defence, following the dismissal of his fresh application for bail.
Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling, fixed June 19 and June 20 for commencement of Kanu’s trial on alleged treasonable felony.
Earlier while ruling on Kanu’s application, filed by his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, Justice Nyako dismissed the motion seeking an order setting aside the 2017 order revoking his bail for alleged abscondment from trial.
The Judge also rejected Kanu’s request to be kept under a house arrest or be transferred to Kuje Correctional Centre in the event that his application for an order vacating the revocation order of his bail was overruled.
But Justice Nyako, who recalled that the court had on several occasions, decided on the issue of his bail plea, said the only option left for him was to appeal the ruling, saying any further application on this ground would be regarded as an abuse of court process.
The Judge, however, ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to always grant Kanu access to his lawyers, not exceeding five people on every visiting day, contrary to the earlier ruling granting three persons per visit, and increased the number of days for visitation from two to three days.
She equally ordered that Kanu must be given “a clean place” to consult with his lawyers at the DSS detention facility, and his lawyers be allowed to take note, restating that the defendant should be allowed access to a doctor of his choice.
Meanwhile, shortly after the ruling, Kanu rose from the dock and objected to his continued trial before the court, telling Justice Nyako that his continued trial was illegal and unconstitutional, as it violated international treaties Nigeria freely entered into.
He insisted that the Federal Government violated the constitution and other international treaties, following his alleged forceful rendition to Nigeria, insisting: “My lord, you said in your earlier ruling that you will not grant me bail until you make a determination about the reason for my disappearance. But you have not done so.
“At this stage, I am of the opinion that you can’t try me without first looking into that. The criminals came to my house to kill me! I don’t understand why my trial must be conducted contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This is the law of Nigeria as of today,” Kanu said, waving a bunch of law books in the dock.
He continued: “This court is in violation of the laws of Nigeria. Section 2(3)(f) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, is very clear.”
The Federal Government’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), interjected and asked Kanu’s legal team to call him to order, and told Justice Nyako not to continue to allow Kanu, a defendant, to speak from the dock, against the rules of the court, even when he had legal representation.
Responding, Kanu accused Awomolo of being a terrorist, saying: “This man is a terrorist for conducting a trial in violation of an international treaty that Nigeria entered into. Once a treaty is entered into and signed, it becomes a law.
“They are all terrorists! No court can try me in Nigeria. Anything done in violation of any treaty entered into by Nigeria is an act of terrorism.
“This man here is a terrorist as at today. He is a dishonest man! You are a terrorist! Who the hell are you? Follow what the law says.
“I have been in detention for over three years. You are the Chairman of the Body of Benchers and you are violating the laws of this country.”
He also restated that the law provided that the defendant should be given unfettered access to his lawyer in the defence of his case.
Awomolo, surprised at Kanu’s outburst, said he was not angry about it and that he was not a terrorist, adding: “I am not a terrorist and I am not provoked by the action of the defendant. It is understandable; he is only being emotional.”
Justice Nyako, who noted that she was not a persecutor, said even if Kanu were in a prison, there would always be conditions for visitation, adding that she had given conditions which might be contrary to the DSS practice, but which the security outfit must comply with.
“When I am making an order, I am taking into consideration all sides. The defendant has to be alive to stand his trial,” the Judge stressed.
