The State Security Service (SSS) on Monday told a Federal Court in Abuja that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, refused to appear in court.
When trial judge Binta Nyako resumed proceedings on the case on Monday, the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, informed the court that Mr. Kanu was not in court.
Mr. Abubakar gestured to an SSS lawyer to address Mr. Kanu’s absence in court.
The SSS lawyer, whose name was not readily available, said: “My Lord, the accused (Mr. Kanu) woke up this morning (Monday) and refused to come to court.”
Mr. Kanu said he was earlier aware of Monday’s proceedings but did not want to be brought before the court.
Reacting to the development, Mike Ozekhome, Mr. Kanu’s lead lawyer, asked why the IPOB leader would not appear in court.
Mr. Ozekhome told the court that Mr. Kanu had always wanted to be in court during his trial.
“The defendant (Mr. Kanu) was always pleading that he wanted to be physically present in court, even at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. We are shocked that the same person refused to come to court,” Mr. Ozekhome said.
Details later…
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