Court adjourns trial to October 21 as DSS fails to produce Nnamdi Kanu

By Deborah Hassan

365Daily – The presiding judge hearing the case of Nnamdi Kanu, secession agitator and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Justice Binta Nyako, has adjourned his trial to October 21, 2021, following the failure of the Department of State Services (DSS) to bring him to court.

The lead counsel to the prosecution, M. B. Abubakar, had informed the court that the case is for hearing only and urged it to proceed with the trial despite the defendant’s absence.

He also requested the court to proceed with the trial withoout a fiat as the court has commenced vacation and the trial Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, was not one of the vacation judges.

However, his request was countered by counsel to the IPOB leader, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who informed the court of an application he filed seeking the transfer of Kanu from DSS custody to a correctional centre.

Responding, Justice Nyako held that the trial of Kanu could not proceed in his absence of the IPOB leader, since he had been arrested and within the country.

She, therefore, ruled that Kanu must physically be brought to court to face his trial and urged the prosecution to ensure this is done at the next trial day.

Many journalists barred from entering the courtroom, with only 10 media organisations granted access by the court.