The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow the leader of the proscribed Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu who is in its custody maximum possible comfort, including the practice of his faith .
Trial Court judge, Justice Binta Nyako gave the order during a sitting conveyed to address an application filed by Kanu lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor for an abridgement of time.He filed the application after the matter had been adjourned to January 19, 2021
Justice Nyako said that the matter for the day, was for abridgment of time. Though the application was not heard because the government counsel opposed it, she made some ordered directing the DSS to allow Nnamdi Kanu to have a change of clothes and to give him medical attention .
Nyako also brought forward the trial by a day (January 18, 2022), from the initial date of (January 19) for a hearing of pending applications which includes the jurisdiction of the court and competence of the charge.
Kanu’s Counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor had in the said application prayed for an order of the court to accommodate the trial in November and December this year as against the earlier January 19.
Counsel to the Federal Government, Shuaib Labaran however told the court that a counter affidavit opposing the request had been filed by the Federal Government and served on Kanu.
Justice Nyako who was taken aback by the motive of the motion told Kanu’s lawyer that there was no judicial time for her court to bring forward the trial date.
In the drama that ensued, the cause list of the court was read to the lawyer to establish that the court has crowded schedule to attend to.
However following the persistent plea, Justice Nyako agreed to shift other cases slated for January 18 to accommodate Kanu’s trial which will last till January 19 and 20.
Before the dates were taken justice Nyako warned the defence lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor to desist from writing letters directly to her in respect of the trial.
The Judge complained bitterly that the lawyer had written two lengthy letters to her directly, as against the procedure of channelling such letters through the Registrar of the court.
Justice Nyako while making her position known in the open court , said she will not take kindly to a repeat of breach of procedure to reach court on such issue.
The judge also on Thursday resisted move by the defence counsel to move Kanu application challenging the competence of the charge. She agreed with the submissions of Shuaib Labaran that the application was not ripe for hearing.
Kanu was not brought to the court on Thursday and there was no tight security compared to previous sittings.