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As Court Gives Defense Counsel Six-Day Ultimatum to Close Defense
- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has declared the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, fit to stand trial, disclosing that health concern raised by the embattled IPOB leader is not life-threatening.
Recall that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had ordered the NMA to set up a team to ascertain Kanu’s actual health status in the wake conflicting claims by medical experts engaged by the prosecution and the defence.
Presenting the report before court during resumption of the hearing on Thursday, the prosecution team leader, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), that the NMA report declared that the defendant’s ailment is not life-threatening.
The team concluded that Kanu was fit to stand trial.
Based on the information contained in the report and in the absence of any objection from lawyers to the parties, Justice Omotosho said the court was convinced that the defendant could proceed with the trial.
The judge subsequently granted the defendant six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence.
According to report, Omotosho also granted an oral application by the defence counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), that Kanu’s legal team be granted a private consultation opportunity with the defendant, outside the premises of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with him (Kanu) could be tapped or recorded by the DSS.
Justice Omotosho also acceded to Agabi’s request that the private meeting with Kanu be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present.
By the court’s directive, the private consultation meeting will be held within the courtroom between 9 am and noon on October 22, while the trial will resume on October 23.