Jonathan Nwokpor
Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, made headlines on Monday in the Federal High Court in Abuja when he declined to submit himself in court to face charges of terrorism.
In order to defuse the situation, Justice Binta Fatimat Nyako was eventually compelled to adjourn the trial until June 19.
Clapping to his chest, Kanu declared that the Nigerian government was not authorised by the Constitution or international law to bring criminal charges against him. He swore he would not go to trial.
Not long after the judge denied his motion to have his revoked bail restored and to be taken out of DSS custody, Kanu stood up from the dock and refuted the attempt by the Federal Government lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, to open the trial.
As soon as Awomolo declared that his witnesses were present in court and prepared to begin the trial, Kanu got up and addressed the arguments made by his attorneys, whom Aloy Ejiamakor led.
He informed the court that he would not consent to an unfair or unlawful prosecution of himself and asked them to forget about holding a trial.
He supported his objections to the trial by citing multiple authorities from a document he had in the dock.
The senior attorney was publicly referred to as a terrorist by the Biafra agitator, who grew increasingly enraged when the government attorney interrupted, stating that a defendant could not speak in the same manner as Kanu.
When the defendant was not allowed to speak in the same manner as Kanu, the Biafra agitator grew increasingly enraged and attacked the senior attorney, calling him a terrorist in front of the court.
Justice Nyako tried to soothe him, but he screamed at the government lawyer, calling him “a terrorist and a dishonest man.”
“As current Chairman of Body of Benchers, you are supposed to know the Constitution and uphold it,” Kanu said, referring to Awomolo.
Awomolo, who seemed offended by Kanu’s outburst, informed Justice Nyako that such behaviour is typical.
“He is only acting on emotions. I am not offended, I am not provoked,” the senior lawyer submitted.
The court granted Kanu’s lawyer’s plea for an adjournment so that the legal team could speak with him in a private setting free from eavesdropping in an attempt to salvage the situation.
Justice Nyako then scheduled the trial to begin on June 19 and 21.
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