Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has concluded a private consultation with his legal team, led by former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
Kanu, who was brought to court by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), met with members of his legal team in the courtroom vacated for him by Justice James Omotosho.
The meeting was held in Court 7, located on the second floor of the Federal High Court headquarters complex in Abuja, the same courtroom where his ongoing terrorism trial is being conducted.
Going by the schedule of proceedings in the case, issued by Justice James Omotosho on October 16, the meeting is part of the defence team’s preparation for the commencement of the defendant’s case on Thursday, October 23.
Persecondnews recalls that Justice Omotosho, on October 16, granted Kanu six consecutive days, begining from October 23, to open and close his defence in view of the accelerated hearing earlier granted in the case.
Agabi, who did not object to the six days granted by the court, however applied orally for the court to grant Kanu’s legal team an opportunity for a private consultation session with the defendant, outside DSS premises.
Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with him (Kanu) could be taped or recorded by the DSS.
Justice Omotosho granted the request and 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 was to hold within the courtroom between 9:00 am and 12 noon on October 22, while the trial will resume on October 23, when Kanu is to open his defence.
Persecondnews recalls that Kanu has been in DSS detention in Abuja since he was rearrested in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria on June 27, 2021.
He was arrested by Kenyan security operatives in collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
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