From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
After a holistic review of the issues surrounding the protracted trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, his legal team on Friday, said they were open to embrace a political solution to resolve the case between the federal government and their client.
Leader of the legal team and special counsel, Mr. Alloy Ejimakor, who disclosed this in Abuja on Friday, noted that section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, empowered the trial judge to recommend reconciliation, otherwise referred to as “political solution” for the resolution of such matters. Ejimakor stated that, “the provision of that section is not limited to civil matters alone. So, anyone that puts the issue on the table, we will consider it. Political solution makes better sense than prosecution.
“However, it is for the government to put it on the table, then we will consider it. Having said that, our duty first is to defend him and not to play politics. Right now, what is on our table is to fight for his defence.
“If they bring that option to the table and our client gives us the instruction, we will go for it.”
While calling on the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to adopt a new approach to handle the matter, different from what was done by his predecessor, the senior lawyer made reference to the cases of the freed Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, and that of social rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, who were all freed by the federal government.
“We urge President Tinubu to carefully review this case, which he inherited from the past administration and see if it was not politically motivated. “Our client did not deserve the travail and tribulations he has been forced to endure. Sometimes, we do wonder what made his case unique. People wonder if it is because of where he hails from that made his case different,” Ejimakor added.
Besides, he berated the prosecution for not granting the embattled IPOB leader the facility to adequately prepare his defence to the charge.
He further alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS), has continued to either deny the defendant access to his lawyers or to monitor his private conversations.
“We have concern about the privacy of our conversations. There was a day I was speaking with my client in company of a colleague, and they took secret photographs of us. We were surprised when they later mistakenly filed that photo in court.
“When we visit him (Kanu), we whisper in fear, afraid that someone may be secretly recording the entire discussion.
“Under the present circumstance, our hope of getting a fair trial is zero. There is no way that Kanu can get a fair trial under the present condition of his detention. It is impossible,” Ejimakor lamented. Ejimakor further noted that the Supreme Court had in its verdict, faulted the revocation of the bail that was previously granted to the IPOB leader by the trial court.
He added that the apex court had also faulted the trial court for issuing a warrant of arrest against Kanu, when his escape from the country was as a result of the invasion of his home by security agents. The Supreme Court itself observed that there was manifest misrepresentation of facts that misled the trial court. Kanu deserves adequate facilities to defend himself,” he added.
Justice Binta Nyako has further adjourned the fresh trial of Kanu to April 17.