The legal representatives of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have issued a warning indicating a potential boycott of court proceedings.
They express concerns over perceived injustices towards their client and emphasize that they may abstain from participating further if his right to a fair trial is not upheld by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Kanu, facing charges of treason and terrorism, has been held in DSS custody since 2021. Despite his plea for bail on health grounds and to adequately prepare for trial, his request was denied by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Additionally, Kanu’s legal team accuses the DSS of consistently confiscating legal documents necessary for his trial preparation.
During a press conference in Abuja, Kanu’s counsel, Ejimakor, asserted that if the DSS continues to obstruct their efforts to prepare Kanu for trial, they will withdraw from the proceedings.
He contends that the actions of the DSS are impeding Kanu’s right to a fair trial and states unequivocally that their legal team will not participate in such a compromised process.
Ejimakor said, “This legal team is not going to be part of the travesty of justice. If Nnamdi Kanu is not going to get a fair trial, this legal team is not going to be part of murdering justice in a Nigerian court. It doesn’t mean we are going to abandon Kanu but we will, as a group, abandon the process. we will refuse to be participants in a process that is geared to and preprogrammed for injustice on the head of Kanu.
“Let that be clear, it doesn’t sound like we are going to boycott Kanu but you can say we are boycotting the judiciary and what we are boycotting is manifest injustice.”
Efforts to get the DSS’ spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, proved abortive, as his phone line indicated ‘busy’ on repeated attempts.
He is also yet to respond to a message requesting his reaction to the allegations leveled against the DSS as of the time of filling this report.
Source: Vanguard