Alleged terrorism: Kanu files motion to stop court judgment

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed a motion seeking to halt the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, scheduled for Nov. 20. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice James Omotosho had, on Nov. 7, fixed Nov. 20 for judgment in the trial of […]

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed a motion seeking to halt the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, scheduled for Nov. 20.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice James Omotosho had, on Nov. 7, fixed Nov. 20 for judgment in the trial of Kanu on alleged terrorism offences.

Justice Omotosho fixed the date after Kanu’s defence was foreclosed following his insistence that he would not enter his defence under a repealed law.

However, in the motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, and personally filed by Kanu, the IPOB leader sought seven reliefs.

In the application dated Nov. 10 and filed same date, Kanu is seeking for an order arresting the delivery of judgment in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 scheduled for Nov. 29.

He alleged that the proceedings were conducted under a repealed and non-existent statute and in disobedience to the Supreme Court’s directive contrary to Section 287(1) CFRN 1999.”

NAN reports that Kanu, who disengaged his lawyers, had opted to represent himself in the charge before Justice Omotosho

Kanu had queried the jurisdiction of the court to try him based on the charge, which he claimed was invalid on the grounds that it was based on repealed laws.

Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, held that Kanu, having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence, had waived his right to do so.

He said Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity given to him to conduct his defence, could not claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair hearing. (NAN)