By Ajuma Edwina Ameh
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fined the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami (SAN) N200,000 for stalling the trial of Nnamdi Kanu’s co-defendants.
Justice Binta Nyako ordered the minister to pay each of the defendants the sum of N50,000 for the inconveniences they suffered due to the absence of the lead counsel to the Federal Government.
Persecondnews reports that the lead counsel, Mr Magaji Labaran, had failed to show up for the trial of the four co-defendants of Kanu on Wednesday.
The co-defendants are Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudike, Benjamin Maduagwu and David Nwaurusi.
The co-defendants had through their counsel, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, complained about the hardships they suffered to raise their transportation fare to Abuja for the trial.
Justice Nyako ordered that the fine must be paid to the co-defendants before the next adjournment on March 17, 2022.
Persecondnews also recalls that the four defendants were arraigned in 2015 alongside Kanu on a three-count charge bordering on treasonable felony.
On February 20, 2018, Nyako ordered the separation of Kanu’s trial from the co-defendants due to the IPOB leader’s absence from various sittings.
In June 2018, they were granted bails in the sum of N10 million each and two sureties each after spending three years in detention.
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