Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),
Nnamdi Kanu, on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja declined to take his
plea in the 15-count terrorism charges instituted against him by the Federal
Government.
He accused the government of ambushing him with the fresh
charges served on him late Monday.
Kanu, through his lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN),
alleged that the government has breached the principle of fair hearing with the
way and manner the new charge was brought to them.
At the resumed trial, Ozekhome complained that the fresh
charge was the sixth in the series adding that his client cannot proceed to
take a plea in the charges he has not studied to prepare for defence as
required by law.
“My Lord, as I am talking now, Kanu does not know the charge
yet. He is just interacting with me. He cannot be made to take a plea to
charges he has not seen.
“The principle of fair hearing is just being violated by the
Federal Government. The frail-looking Kanu standing in the dock there has not
been allowed to access his family as directed by this honourable court,” he
said.
In addition, Ozekhome claimed that the proof of evidence was
not legible enough for their understanding of the fresh charges.
“I went to DSS to see him and I was almost stripped naked
before I could see him.
“We pray that the arraignment is adjourned till tomorrow to
enable his lawyers to study the new charge along with him in the interest of
justice,” he added.
The request for adjournment was not opposed by Mr Shuaib
Labaran who stood for the Federal Government, prompting Justice Binta Nyako to
fix tomorrow for the arraignment.
The judge ordered that Kanu and his lawyers be allowed to
have an interface in the courtroom before taking him to DSS custody.
Earlier, Kanu had, through his lawyer, complained of poor
feeding, clothing and denial to practice the religion of his choice.
Justice Nyako in response reminded him that the detention
facility is not a five-star hotel but however ordered that Kanu be allowed to
come to court tomorrow in new clothes.
The judge declined the request that a foreign lawyer, Mr
Bruce Fein, be allowed into the courtroom to observe the trial adding that the
request would be granted upon a written application and approval by the Chief
Judge of the Federal High Court.
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