The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has engaged new lawyers as his trial resumes before the Abuja federal high court.
Mike Ozekhome, who was formerly the senior counsel representing Kanu, has been replaced by Emeka Ejiofor, while the prosecuting team is being led by Adegboyega Awomolo who replaced David Kaswe, a lawyer with the federal ministry of justice.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest in 2020, has been reported to be present in court.
The federal government charged him with terrorism after he was extradited in June of 2020.
A federal high court judge in Abuja named Binta Nyako dismissed eight of the fifteen counts in the charge in April 2022.
Nyako ordered Kanu’s release on October 13, 2022, when the court of appeals rejected the remaining seven counts.
Nevertheless, on October 28, 2022, the court of appeals imposed a stay of execution on its decision, expunging Kanu, following the federal government’s filing of an appeal with the Supreme Court.
However, the appellate court’s ruling was overturned on December 15, 2023, when a five-member bench of the Supreme Court ordered Kanu to retry his case before the Federal High Court.
Chioma Kalu
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