Following Nnamdi Kanu’s disappearance, court orders separate trials for his co-defendants

Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday accepted to try leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu’s, co-defendants separately.

The decision followed an oral application by the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, who argued that Kanu’s continued absence from court since he was granted bail in April 2017 “has frustrated progress in the case.”

Labaran had told the court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, “In the circumstance (of Kanu continued disappearance), the prosecution shall be asking for the indulgence of your lordship to separate the trial so that progress can be made in this matter.”

After the defence lawyers did not oppose the application, the trial judge held that she was in agreement with the prosecuting counsel on the need to severe the trial of Kanu from that of others in order “to meet the justice of the case.”

Kanu and his co-defendants are being prosecuted on five counts bordering on treasonable felony, among other charges.

Since the invasion of his home in September 2017, by the Nigerian Army, his whereabouts has remained unknown.

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He was absent when the matter came up on Tuesday while his co-defendants were all produced in court by prison officials for the day’s proceedings.

The co-defendants who are standing trial along Kanu are the IPOB National Coordinator, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe; an IPOB member, Benjamin Madubugwu; and a former Field Maintenance Engineer seconded to the telecommunication company, MTN, David Nwawuisi.

 

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