By Olalekan Awojodu Abuja.
The much touted bail for the embattled leader of the Independent Peoples of Biafra(IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not happen afterall as Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday threw out the abridgement application which was brought before her by IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers.
Justice Nyako also brought down the trial of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafran IPOB Nnamdi Kanu from January 19 to 18 next year.
The shift in the trial date this medium learnt was occasioned by abridgment of time granted by the Judge following a passionate plea to that effect.
Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor had approached the court with an application seeking order of the court to accommodate the trial in November and December this year as against the earlier January 19.
Shuaib Labaran who stood for the Federal government however told the court that a counter affidavit opposing the request by the government has been filled and served on Kanu. At that point, Justice Nyako told Kanu’s lawyer that their application for time abridgment cannot be considered because there is no judicial time for such an issue.
In the drama that ensued, the case diary of the court was read to the lawyer to establish that the court has crowded cases to attend to.
However following the insistence, Justice Nyako agreed to shift other cases slated for January 18 to accommodate the trial which will last till January 19 and 20. Justice Nyako ordered DSS to allow Kanu to practice his faith, change his clothes and be given maximum possible comfort in the detention facility.
IPOB had flew a kite on Wednesday, of the possibility of Kanu’s presence in court today. IPOB media manager, Emma Powerful had urged Igbo residents Abuja to troop to court to show solidarity to the IPOB leader. He also declared that there will be no “lockdown in Biafra land’ in solidarity with the leader.
However situation reports in court on Thursday morning put a lie to IPOB statement as there was no indication that Kanu may be brought to court.
Our Correspondent who was on ground could not sight the usual presence of armed policemen and the Department of State Security (DSS) operatives that always preceded Kanu’s visit.
Newsmen from different media houses who came to monitor the proceedings left disappointedly, while others were seen discussing the developments in hush tones.
Kanu lawyers eventually got into Justice Binta Nyako’s court at 8:52am.
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