The trial of the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, resumed today, Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court. Surprisingly, the trial was swiftly suspended and adjourned to Wednesday, January 19, 2022, by the presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako.
(Photo credit: Vanguard newspaper)
Just as many were still wondering why the Judge took the aforementioned decision, it has been revealed that the reason for the decision was as a result of the objection raised by Kanu, through his legal team led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, that the amended charges preferred against Kanu was served to him barely 24 hours to today’s court session. They further argued that the defendant, being Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was yet to set his eyes on the new amended charges.
Vanguard newspaper quoted Chief Mike Ozekhome to have told the court, “My lord, the proposed amended charge was served on us yesterday evening. As I speak to you my lord, the Defendant who was just brought in, has not even seen the charge which he is being told to enter his plea”.
(Chief Mike Ozekhome. Photo credit: Daily Post Nigeria)
Meanwhile, after due consultations, hearing from the Prosecution team, led by Mr. Mohammed Labaran from the Federal Ministry of Justice, who gave his consent as well, the trial Judge had no other option than to suspend the day’s court session. And it was moved to Wednesday, January 19, 2022, to enable the defendant and his legal team have a good look at the new amended charges preferred against the IPOB leader by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Going further, Chief Mike Ozekhome equally complained about the tactics of always coming up with new amended charges by the prosecuting team. He made it clear that this is the 6th time that the charges brought against his client will be amended, equally claiming that it is a tactics aimed at frustrating the progression of the trial.
(Photo credit: Pointblank news)
In the exact words of Chief Ozekhome as reported by Vanguard newspaper, “with due respect, that is not Justice. It is ambushing. I know that the Administration if Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows them to amend, but this is the 6th amendment they are making, and each time they do it, they serve us a day to the hearing, just to frustrate the trial”.
Therefore, Kanu is now expected to enter a fresh plea when the court resumes on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, to the amended charges with the initial suit number tagged FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.
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