Separatist agitations: Confusion over Kanu’s absence in court
…Igboho’s fate on extradition unknown
Moses Adeniyi and Uthman Salami
There was confusion yesterday in Abuja as the Department of State Security (DSS) failed to produce the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu at yesterday’s trial in Court, as the fate of the Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, remains largely unknown in Republic of Benin Court.
In Kanu’s case, Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the trial yesterday at the resumption of proceedings at the court in Abuja.
The trial of the leader of the proscribed IPOB was stifled after the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce Kanu him court.
The judge faulted the action of the security outfit, saying that she had stayed back in her chambers waiting for the defendant to be in court.
She ordered the prosecution to be diligent with dates whenever she gives one, stressing that it is important for Kanu to be present at his trial.
The prosecuting lawyer Mohammed Abubakar, informed the judge that the defendant was not in court due to logistical reasons.
On his part Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on his part, lamented that DSS had denied them access to the defendant for the past eight days.
As a result, he urged Justice Nyako to grant the request of his client seeking to be transferred from the DSS custody to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Ejiofor also asked the judge to grant Kanu access to his medical doctor for the purpose of carrying out a comprehensive independent medical examination on him.
According to him, the defendant cannot get a fair trial if he remains in the custody of the DSS.
After listening to both counsels, Justice Nyako said she would give an order for access to the defendant though insisting that such access would not be free for all, saying that it must be regimented.
She further denied the proposal of the defence counsel that Kanu should be transferred to a correctional centre, ordering that he should remain in the custody of the DSS. The judge, however, adjourned the trial to October 21.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, the fate of Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Igboho, who is currently undergoing trials in a Beninese court is yet to be known as the Court is yet to declare its verdict.
It was reported that the Court had gone on recess, yesterday evening, around past 7:00pm following presentation of arguments by the parties.
It would be recalled that one of Igboho’s Counsels in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Ibrahim Salami, had earlier said the activist might be released by the Cour D’Appel De Cotonou on Monday.
Recall that Igboho and his wife were arrested about a week ago on July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on their way to Germany through the neighbouring Country, following the declaration of the agitator as wanted by the Nigerian authorities.
When they were arraigned last Thursday, the Beninese court had adjourned the case till Monday (yesterday) after Igboho’s five lawyers failed to convince the prosecutor that he had no case to answer.
However, Beninese authorities, subsequently, released Ropo – the agitator’s wife, while the 48-year-old activist was returned to police custody.
The lawyers had said after Thursday’s hearing that the prosecutors claimed Igboho was on a watchlist for alleged trafficking in arms, inciting violence that could result in social disturbance and causing disunity in Nigeria.
Supporters of the Yoruba Nation agitator, meanwhile, converged around the Court premises on Monday in solidarity despite attempt by the Police in Benin Republic to disperse them.
