News

IPOB Kanu’s trial separated from other suspects

Published

8 years ago

February 20, 2018

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday has granted the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu who jumped bail last year be separately tried from the rest of his co-defendants.

The lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, made an oral application to that effect, noting that Kanu’s continued absence from court since he was granted bail in April 2017 “has frustrated progress in the case.”

“In the circumstance, the prosecution shall be asking for the indulgence of your lordship to separate the trial so that progress can be made in this matter,” Labaran said.

Other defence lawyers did not oppose the application.

Trial judge Justice Binta Nyako granted the order.

Kanu, with his co-defendants, is being prosecuted on five counts bordering on treasonable felony, among other charges, has not been appearing in court since September 22, 2017 when his team of lawyers and family declared him missing.

Soldiers allegedly invaded his home in Abia State during a military operation by the Nigerian Army to quell the secessionist activities of IPOB in the southeast.

The IPOB leader’s co-defendants are the National Coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe; an IPOB member, Benjamin Madubugwu; and a former Field Maintenance Engineer seconded to the telecommunication company, MTN, David Nwawuisi.