The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, issued a bench warrant for arrest of the leader of the proscribed Indegeniuos People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. -
The court, in a ruling by trial Justice Binta Nyako, equally revoked the bail it earlier granted to the IPOB leader who is facing treasonable felony charge. -
Placing reliance on section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, the court, said it would go ahead to try Kanu in absentia. -
Justice Nyako said the order was informed by the inability of Kanu's lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, to give "cogent, compelling and verifiable reason" why his client repeatedly failed to appear in court to answer to the charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
The court subsequently fixed June 18 to commence Kanu's trial in his absence. The ruling followed an application FG made on Wednesday after Kanu's case was called up for trial.
Kanu, whose whereabouts has remained unknown since September 2017, was hitherto answering to a five-count charge FG entered against him and three other pro-Biafra agitators, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi
Posted: at | |