Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja has shifted the trial of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from January 19 to 18, 2022. The shift in the trial date followed a passionate plea by Kanu’s lead lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor for abridgement of time. Ejiofor approached the Court with an application seeking an order of the Court to bring down the trial in November and December this year as against the earlier January 19, 2022 adjourned date. But the prosecuting counsel, Shuaib Labaran, however, told the Court that a counter affidavit opposing the request by the government has been filed and served on Kanu. Justice Nyako however informed Kanu’s lawyer that the application for time abridgement cannot be granted because there was no judicial time for such an issue. During the drama that ensued, the case diary of the Court was read to the lawyer to establish that the Court has crowded pending cases. The judge agreed to shift other cases slated for January 18 to accommodate the trial which would last till January 19 and 20. Following Ejiofor’s complaint, justice Nyako ordered the Department of State Services to allow Kanu to practice his faith, change his clothes and be given possible comfort in the DSS detention facility.
