Terrorism: Court adjourns Kanu’s defence to Oct 27
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Monday, October 27 for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to open his defence. Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after Kanu complained that he was yet to receive the case file from his former lawyers led by Kanu Agabi, a Senior […]
Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, with his legal team, during an appearance at the Federal High Court in Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Monday, October 27 for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to open his defence.
Justice James Omotosho adjourned the matter after Kanu complained that he was yet to receive the case file from his former lawyers led by Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Earlier, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) announced appearance for the federal government and indicated readiness to participate in the day’s proceedings.
However, no lawyer appeared for Kanu, who mounted the dock with some documents.
Kanu had on Thursday announced the sack of his lawyers led by Kanu Agabi and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria: Onyechi Ikpeazu, Paul Erokoro, Joseph Akubo and Emeka Etiaba.
He clarified his preparedness to represent himself in the court.
Kanu is facing seven-count charges of terrorism before the court.
#FreeNnamdiKanu: Sowore rearrested after bail
Meanwhile, a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, was re-arrested yesterday after he was granted bail, alongside a lawyer, as well as brother to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor and Emmanuel Kanu.
The development occurred minutes after Magistrate Abubakar Sai’id of the Kuje Chief Magistrate’s Court approved bail for Sowore and other defendants who were charged with unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace following Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
While Ejimakor and the other defendants were arrested during the #FreeeNnamdiKanuNow protest on Monday, Sowore was arrested during the hearing of Kanu’s case on Thursday, October 23.
Speaking on the development, Tope Temokun, counsel to Sowore, claimed that the police officers “descended violently upon” the activist in a bid to “abduct” him.
Temokun said the police had no legal justification to take Sowore to an “unknown destination.”
“After the court had freely and honourably granted bail to the human rights defender, Omoyele Sowore on liberal terms, a detachment of police officers, led by CSP Iliyasu, OC Anti-Vice, state command of the CID, invaded the court premises in a display of raw impunity and disdain for the rule of law.”
Sowore and other defendants, including Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and Emmanuel Kanu, Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, were each granted bail in the sum of N500,000.