The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, hit the rock on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, after the Department for State Services failed to produce the IPOB leader in court.
When the matter was called around 11.10am, after counsel representing parties in the matter, lead counsel to the prosecution, Mr M. B. Abubakar, informed the court that the case is for hearing and although defendant has not yet been produced by the Department of State Service (DSS), holding in custody, they are ready to proceed.
He however requested the mind of the Court to proceed without a fiat taking into consideration that the court has commenced vacation and Justice Binta Nyako was not one of the vacation judges.
Reacting, Kanu’s lawyer, Mr ifeanyi Ejiofor, informed the court of an application he filed seeking the transfer of Kanu from DSS custody to correctional center.
Responding, trial judge held that trial of Kanu cannot proceed in the absence of Kanu, having been arrested and brought into the country. The judge insisted that Kanu must physically be brought to court since he is now available to face his trial.
The court urged the prosecution to ensure that Kanu be brought to court to witness his trial.