On a day the Department of State Services (DSS) for the second time in a row prevented some journalists from covering the trial of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu, his trial became an anti-climax, forcing Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday to adjourn his trial till January 19, after his lawyers walked out on the court.
Also, videos trending online showed Kanu, in a shouting match with an unidentified man in a black shirt and jeans, and a masked face. The intervention of another unidentified man in suit seemed to douse tension and Kanu took his seat with others who appeared to be his lawyers.
No one reported the altercation, but Kanu’s lawyers walked out, protesting the refusal of operatives of the DSS to allow some of Kanu’s counsels from entering the courtroom.
Kanu, had frowned at the DSS action, especially as it affected hisAmerican lawyer, Bruce Fein.
According to him, Fein was handling a case for him in the US, was around to witness his trial.
“I have an ongoing case in the US. I have not been allowed to see him. He is here to see me and to observe the proceedings.
“He has been to the DSS to see me, but they denied him access to me,” he told Justice Nyako.
Kanu flatly declined when Justice Nyako sought to know if he wanted the case to go on.
And Nyako was not disposed to the case continuing despite prodding for the government lawyer, M. D. Abubakar.
In a short ruling, Justice Nyako, she adjourned the case till January 19 and 20 for trial, while taking exception to the walk-out by Barrister Ifeanyu Ejiofor and Kanu’s legal team before she came into the court.
Meanwhile the DSS denied journalists access to the court room where Kanu was re-arraigned by the Federal Government for a seven-count amended treasonable felony.
The hooded operatives, and others from the Police and the Nigeria Civil Security and Defence Corps (NCSDC), blocked all routes leading to the court, and sent back journalists, acting, as they claimed, on orders from above.
Some Igbo traditional rulers who arrived more than two and half hours before Kanu was brought in were also turned back.
The charges against Kanu are:
The charges are:
▪︎Count One: That you, Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State being the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in London, United Kingdom, did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, preparations made by you and others now at large for states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue States to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into the Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(c) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
▪︎ Count Two: That you, Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area ot Abia State, on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, referred to Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
▪︎Count Four: That you, Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult of Afaraukwu iIbeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in London, United Kingdom between 2018 and 2021 Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and FCT, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, professed to be a member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16 Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 013.
▪︎ Count Five: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 22th of April, 2021 in London, United Kingdom on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act of terrorism in that you incite the other members (followers) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB}, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria, to look for security personnel, their family members through a Radio Biafra on 102.1FM monitored through the IPOB Community Radio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.
▪︎ Count Six: That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia Stale on the 16thh of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “In 2 weeks’ time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still, mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
▪︎Count Seven: That you, Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 31st of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by issuing a deadly threat that anyone who flouted your sit-at-home order should “write his/her will,” as a result banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses and vehicular movements grounded and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.