The Federal High Court in Abuja paused proceedings in Nnamdi Kanu’s trial to allow him file an affidavit in his defence.
Justice James Omotosho granted the request after Kanu complained that DSS officers had denied him the opportunity to submit the document.
Kanu stated: “I have a process here to file which has not been allowed for the last three days. I have the process for my defence.”
While responding, Justice Omotosho sought clarification from the DSS operatives present in court on why the IPOB leader had been unable to file the document.
One of the DSS operatives explained that after Wednesday’s adjournment, Kanu informed them of his intention to file a process, but he did not complete it before they left.
The officer added that the following day, they again received information that Kanu wished to file the process.
He noted that there are established procedures guiding Kanu’s movement to ensure his safety and that of others, including the requirement for a formal request from his former lawyers, who now act as consultants, before such movements could occur.
“We only got the information from our officers who are detailed to him. So that creates a logistic problem,” he said.
The court allowed a standdown to enable Kanu file the process.
Awomolo, the prosecuting counsel, suggested that Kanu’s consultants liaise with him or the DSS Legal Department to resolve the issue.
Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered that court registry officers and the commissioner for oath bring the court stamp into the courtroom to enable Kanu file his documents.
“The defendant will file here while we take other matters,” the judge ruled.
He further directed that court officials be permitted to visit the DSS facility with the court stamp whenever Kanu needs to depose to any document.
