Ruling on Nnamdi Kanu’s case set for April

An Abuja federal high court hearing the terrorism charges preferred against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has adjourned ruling till April 18.

Trial judge Binta Nyako, before whom Kanu is being tried is expected to deliver ruling on Kanu’s application to have the 15-count amended charges quashed.

In his argument, Kanu states that the charges are incompetent, since the alleged crimes were committed outside the country.

Prior,  Kanu’s counsel Mike Ozekhome informed the judge of the refusal of the Department of State Security to allow his client a change of clothing.

He also told the court that Kanu might lose his sights, as the DSS had twice seized his pair of reading glasses.

“My lord will still see the defendant in the same uniform which my lord warned against in the last proceedings.

“It will be recalled that they had on that day, alleged that he said that he preferred to wear the same cloth.

“However, since that time, the younger brother of the defendant, his lawyer and sister have gone three times with materials for him to change but they refused collecting them.

“So bad was it that Ejiofor (another lawyer in the defence team, Ifeanyi) had to call the Director of Legal Services and complained to him. The Director told him that he would do something about it, that he would contact the Director of Operations to ensure that the order was carried out.

“But since then, nothing has been done. They have not allowed him to change his clothes.

“My lord, since 2015, his glasses were taken from him. The one he wore before his extraordinary rendition from Kenya was also taken from him.

“Till now, he does not have glasses to wear and his eye sight is deteriorating. My lord we do not want the defendant to go blind, that is why we have decided to bring it to the attention of the court,” Ozekhome said.

Prosecuting counsel, Shuaib Labaran defended the DSS action. He told the judge Kanu’s family had brought clothing that bore a lion heart insignia on them.

Shuaib added that such clothing offends DSS operating procedure

Justice Nyako later asked Kanu which type of clothing he would prefer, to which he answered: “I want to wear the clothes of my people, “isi agu”. The judge immediately turned down his request, before adjourning for ruling in April.