The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has accused the Federal Government of plotting to prolong the trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
This was as the pro-Biafra group claimed that the government and its agencies, in a bid to frustrate Kanu’s case at the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, court, in Abuja yesterday, failed to send representatives for the hearing.
Following the withdrawal of the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, Kanu had dragged the Federal Government to the regional court over his continued detention.
Biafra: FG determined to prolong Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, refusing to send lawyers to ECOWAS court – IPOB
This was as the pro-Biafra group claimed that the government and its agencies, in a bid to frustrate Kanu’s case at the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, court, in Abuja yesterday, failed to send representatives for the hearing.
Following the withdrawal of the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, Kanu had dragged the Federal Government to the regional court over his continued detention.
IPOB made the latest allegation in a statement signed by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful.
In the statement titled: ‘Nigerian Government on the run as ECOWAS threatens to pass final judgement on Kanu’s case,’ the group said: “It was a nervous moment for the Nigerian government today at the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Abuja, as the Court ignored every threat from the government not to conduct a hearing on Nnamdi Kanu’s case, which has suffered an unending trial in the Nigerian judiciary”.
“It is unfortunate that the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot come to defend the illegal detention of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Mazi Kanu’s defence team led by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor arrived the court at exactly 10:00am, while the three man panel of Judges led by Justice Friday Nwoke, from the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, arrived at the court at about 10:10am. Barrister Ejiofor introduced himself to the Judges after which the court clerk called up the case but no representative was sent by the Nigerian government. The case was adjourned to November 8, 2016 for hearing.'
“The Nigerian government was found to be on the run as the defence lawyer to the Federal Government submitted a motion for his absence just few hours before court proceedings, claiming that he has a case today in Kaduna, however, IPOB and Kanu’s lawyer Ejiofor objected to excuse pointing out that he met him yesterday at the court, while he accused the Nigerian government of plans to further prolong Kanu’s case.”
IPOB claimed that the presiding Judge, Justice Nwoke pointed out that the court case in Kaduna is not enough reason for the government’s absence in court, warning that if counsels of the government fail to appear in the next court session, he will go ahead to give final judgment in the case between Kanu and the Federal government of Nigeria.
“The judge also asked the Nigerian Government to compensate Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ejiofor with the sum of one million naira only as compensation for flying from Lagos to Abuja for the case and their failure to show up, Justice Nwoke thereafter, adjourned the case to 8th November 2016 for hearing and final judgment,” the statement added.
No comments:
Post a Comment