The Federal High Court Judge trying the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu of terrorism charges has directed the Federal government to ensure all relevant documents and materials intended for trial are duly served on the defence team before being tendered in Court.
This decision followed the confusion over legal representation and tendering of documents in the courtroom when the case resumed on Tuesday.
Justice James Omotosho equally barred Kanu’s sister, Favour Kanu for 3 sittings for recording Court proceedings in violation of directives.
When hearing resumed on Tuesday, the trial judge called the attention of the defense team to a letter received from one Charles Udeh, claiming to be Kanu’s lawyer, but the lead defense counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), disassociated the team from Ude’s claim, with Kanu affirming that Agabi remains his official legal representative.
The Court also addressed a past infarction involving Favour Kanu, a relative of the defendant, who had allegedly recorded Court proceedings in violation of directives and posted the content online.
Nnamdi Kanu however personally appealed for leniency on her behalf.
Favour, when called upon, claimed ignorance of the Court still being in session and stated that she had stopped recording immediately after the warning.
The trial judge, in consideration of the complainant of infraction, barred her from attending the next 3 sittings.
Tuesday’s proceedings continued with the cross-examination of the first Prosecution witness, with pseudo name identified as AAA, who admitted to being unaware that several terrorism charges against Kanu had been struck out by the Court and also lacked knowledge of the current status of many of the original 15-count charges.
When Re-examined by the lead Prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the witness stated that Kanu’s activities amounted to agitation for the secession of parts of Nigeria.
The second Prosecution witness was identified as BBB, who testified that he was assigned by the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate Kanu.
He described the defendant as the operator of Radio Biafra and the founder of the Eastern Security Network.
However attempts by the Prosecution to tender a letter authorising the witness’s investigation met stiff resistance from Agabi, who objected on the grounds that the document was not front loaded, which prompted the Prosecution to withdraw the document.
MUST READ: Nnamdi Kanu In Court As Justice Omotosho Begins Fresh Trial on Terrorism Charges
The defendants also expressed disagreements over the admissibility of video evidence presented by the Prosecution, which Kanu himself opposed.
The Court ordered therefore that all documents and materials intended for trial must be served in advance and listed properly, stressing that no document would be admitted unless previously disclosed to the defence.
The trial Judge, Justice James Omotosho then adjourned to May 7 for the continuation of trial, specifically for the examination-in-chief of the second Prosecution witness, BBB.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
