The legal team of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, walked out on Binta Nyako, the judge of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court handling the separatist’s trial.
Members of the defence team, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, were earlier seated in court but walked out just before the arrival of the judge about 10 a.m.
Their action was in protest against the refusal of the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) to allow Bruce Fein, an American lawyer working with the team into the courtroom.
But they later accused the judge of bias for conducting proceedings in their absence.
Wednesday’s proceedings abruptly ended due to the lawyers’ walk-out, with the judge adjourning till January 19, 2022.
Kanu, who is being prosecuted on a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, had before Wednesday’s proceedings, engaged the spy police agents in a shouting-match inside the courtroom when he observed the absence of his legal team.
As proceedings resumed after the judge entered the courtroom, Mohammed Abubakar, announced an appearance for the prosecution.
However, the defence team, led by Mr Ejiofor was nowhere to be found, prompting the judge to ask Mr Kanu of his lawyers’ whereabouts.
In his response, Mr Kanu said his lawyers were protesting the denial of access to Mr Fein, the IPOB lawyer in the United States, who was on the Federal High Court premises to observe the day’s session.
Source: Premium Times
