Drama over Nnamdi Kanu’s clothes, eyesight as court adjourns till April 8

There was mild drama in court on Wednesday over the clothes that leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was wearing in court.

Kanu who was at the Federal High Court in Abuja in continuation of his trial was wearing his Fendi outfit, the outfit in which he was arrested.

This was despite an order given by Justice Binta Nyako in December 2021 that he should be allowed to change his outfit before his next appearance in court.

Nnamdi Kanu’s lead lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, complained that the Department of State Services (DSS) refused to allow his client change his outfit despite an order by the court.

He told the court that on three occasions, Kanu’s younger brother was denied access to DSS facility where Kanu was detained.

Ozekhome also noted that since Kanu was arrested and detained, his eye glass was seized by the DSS and has not been returned to him. He asked that his eyeglasses, be returned to him so he doesn’t go blind.

Responding to Ozekhome’s complaint, the judge asked the Director of Legal Services of the DSS to provide explanations to the issue.

• Mike Ozekhome to lead Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team

Explaining to the judge why Kanu did not change his clothes, he said, “My Lord, clothes that were brought for the defendant had lion’s head embroiled on them, and the defendant cannot wear clothes with a lion’s head.”

The secret service’s lawyer noted that “clothes with lion’s head offend the standard operating procedures” of the DSS.

The judge then asked the type of cloth Kanu prefers to wear.

In response, Nnamdi Kanu said, “I want to wear the clothes of my people, “Isi Agu”.

The judge refused his request but asked the DSS to provide Kanu with his eyes glasses which his lawyers said was taken away from him.

Justice Nyako said the complaints had been noted and directed Ozekhome to proceed with the business of the day.

Ozekhome said he has an application that basically seeks the quashing, striking out, and dismissing of the 15-count amended charge against Nnamdi Kanu for being incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction to entertain the 15-count amended charge.

The application, with 34 grounds, and supported by 36-paragraph affidavit, Ozekhome said, also seeks for an order acquitting and discharging Kanu for want of jurisdiction and defective, baseless and incompetent charges.

Similarly, the prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, informed the court that the defence counsel had filed and served him with two applications, which he had responded accordingly.

He added that the first application is seeking an order quashing the 15-count amended charge levelled against Kanu and the other one seeking his bail.

The matter was then adjourned to April 8 to rule on Kanu’s applications to quash the charge.

Nnamdi Kanu is accused of many offences including treasonable felony and terrorism, offences he allegedly committed in the course of his separatist campaigns.