The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled February 26 for the resumption of the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as disclosed by Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Kanu, on his X handle (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday.
The case, which commenced in 2015, was put on hold at the Federal High Court in Abuja following the dismissal of terrorism charges against Kanu by the Court of Appeal in October 2022.
However, despite the dismissal, the Nigerian government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation's office, appealed the judgment and obtained a Supreme Court order staying the execution of the judgment. Consequently, on December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court ordered the continuation of Kanu's trial on terrorism charges.
Aloy Ejimakor confirmed that Justice Binta Nyako will preside over the resumed trial, sharing a hearing notice dated February 8 on the microblogging platform X.
The hearing notice emphasized the necessity for both parties to present all evidence and witnesses to support their respective cases, warning that failure to do so may result in restrictions or additional costs.
Parties seeking to summon witnesses were instructed to apply promptly to the court, ensuring sufficient time for the witnesses to prepare. Additionally, any party summoning a witness through the court is liable to pay a reasonable sum for the witness's expenses and loss of time.
Furthermore, the court outlined procedures for the use of books or documents as evidence, requiring parties to provide reasonable notice for their production at the hearing.
In light of these developments, the resumption of Nnamdi Kanu's trial signifies a significant legal proceeding, with potential implications for both the defendant and the broader socio-political landscape.