Judge hands off trial of Kanu, pro-Biafra leader

The immediate-past National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh has blasted the Department of State Services (DSS) over continued detention of Director of Radio Biafra and Leader, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, Vanguard reports.

Justice Mohammed said that since the confidence of the court had been questioned he would return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for further action.

Kanu said: “I will not have a fair trial in this very court because information available to me indicates that I will not receive fair trial before this very Judge”.

“I will not sacrifice the due process founded upon the principle of natural justice on the altar of speedy release from detention”.

The accused, who was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Wednesday, told the judge before commencement of the prosecution’s plea that he preferred being held in detention than subjecting himself to a trial, which outcome he noted, would not be respected by the government.

“Previous court judgements and rulings have been delivered by competent courts of law in Nigeria in my favour which the Department of State Security Service failed to obey or implement”.

Reacting to Mr Kanu’s protest the Director of Public Prosecution Mr Mohammed Diri, asked the court to discountenance the objection on the ground that the accused person ought to come before the court with a proper application.

But counsel to Kanu, Mr. Vincent Egechukwu Obetta informed the court that the accused has the fundamental right to object to his trial by the judge, and pleaded with the court to grant him his request.

The judge, therefore, ordered that the case file be returned to the CJ for reassignemnt to another judge.

The government is accusing Kanu of plotting to split Nigeria, by creating a Biafra Republic with south east, south south states, and parts of Kogi and Benue states, as component units.

Kanu was brought to court on a fresh six-count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.

Eight of the deceased persons were also listed as applicants before the court.

“That you, Nnamdi Kanu between the months of March and April, 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor town in Ihiala local Government Area of Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, a radio transmitter known as TRAM 5OL concealed in a container which you described as containing household items, which you so declared and that, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 47(2) (a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act”.

It also wondered why the recent Army-Shiite clash generated so much concern by the government of Nigeria, with a presidential delegation led by the Minister of Interior to ascertain what happened even when it claimed that it was “clear the Shiite sect was on the wrong side of the law”.

Equally cited as an applicant in the matter was an International Non-governmental organisation, Kingdom Human Right Foundation International.