Favour Kanu, the wife of Prince Fineboy Kanu, the younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, has been barred from attending the next three court sessions by an Abuja Federal High Court after she live-streamed the proceedings on her Facebook page.
The Federal Government has charged Kanu with terrorism.
On Tuesday, Justice James Omotosho granted the ruling following Favour’s apology and admission of live-streaming the session.
According to the judge, her behavior might have qualified as contempt of court.
Chief Kanu Agabi, her husband’s attorney, also pleaded with the court for mercy, but Justice Omotosho insisted that she be barred for three sittings.
The judge was shocked that she posted the footage online after her phone had been confiscated at a prior court appearance for a related offense.
“I’d like to speak with her. The judge questioned, “Did you not take your phone?”
I never ordered that phone to be forfeited. He then on, “I’m not sure if she could be my brother Nnamdi Kanu’s wife.”
In response, Prince Fineboy Kanu said, “She is my wife.”
Assuring that justice would be served, Justice Omotosho cautioned that no one should do anything that would cause the trial to be delayed.
During the proceeding, the federal government’s second prosecution witness told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Kanu is also the founder of the Eastern Security Network.
The witness code-named BBB stated under examination by the federal government’s lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, in the open court presided over by Justice James Omotosho.
Recall that at the commencement of the trial, Awomolo had asked the court that the identities of the witnesses be concealed from the public and protected for security reasons.
He stated the charges against Kanu bothers on a serious offence of terrorism, hence, the need to protect the witnesses.
In a short ruling, Justice Omotosho granted the prosecution counsel’s request.
Kanu, who was initially facing a 15-count charge of terrorism and treason brought against him by the Attorney General of the Federation, got it downsized to 7 after the trial court struck out eight of the charges on April 8, 2022, for lacking substance.
At the resumed trial on Tuesday, BBB told the court that he was assigned by the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate Kanu.
Speaking further, he said from the findings of his investigation, “the defendant is the operator of Radio Biafra and the founder of the Eastern Security Network”.
Meanwhile, efforts by Awomolo to tender a letter authorising the witness to investigate the defendant were opposed by the defence lead counsel, Kanu Agabi.
Agabi objected to the tendering of the document because they had not been served.
The document was later withdrawn by the prosecution, and the court approved the withdrawal.
Citing the same grounds that they had not been served, Agabi also argued against the admissibility of video evidence that the Awomolo had tendered.
The leader of IPOB endorsed his counsel’s submission. The court mandated that all trial-related materials be properly listed and served beforehand.
Justice Omotosho emphasized that unless the defense had been informed beforehand, no document would be admissible.
The prosecution told the court that it had submitted a move to release some evidence that had already been offered as exhibits, including items 1 through 28 and 30 through 39.
In its reply, the court ordered that the motion be refiled with each exhibit correctly cited and named.
Earlier, when Awomolo reexamined the prosecution witness code-named AAA, he said that, according to his interpretation of agitation in relation to the defendant, Kanu’s actions were motivated by secessionist agitation because he thought the defendant was advocating for the secession of certain regions of Nigeria.
The witness acknowledged understanding little about the specifics of the 15-count allegation, including several that had allegedly been struck down by the court, when asked about his knowledge of the charges against Kanu and prior rulings during AAA’s cross-examination.
The witness acknowledged awareness of IPOB’s role in enforcing Monday sit-at-home orders, which Agabi responded was among the charges that had been dismissed.
Agabi repeatedly highlighted that several serious terrorism-related allegations, including disruption of elections and attacks on federal property, were part of the struck-out charges, a point the witness said he was unaware of.
Awomolo, on his part, had also cited concerns about a motion served on his team for the release of certain exhibits tendered in court. He noted that the prosecution objected only to the release of non-perishable items.
Meanwhile, shortly after the commencement of the day’s proceedings, a mild drama over legal representation ensued.
Justice Omotosho informed the open court that he received a protest letter from one Charles Udeh, claiming to be part of the legal representation for the trial.
However, the legal team of the defendant denied knowledge of Ude, a stance Kanu himself affirmed, insisting Agabi is his counsel.
Following the response of the defence to the situation, Justice Omotosho addressed the issue of the defence team being overcrowded.
He proceeded to note that only the approved amount of counsel can be allowed on the defence team.
Justice Omotosho said: “I approved 16 counsels for the defendants, and I have 29, I won’t take it. “It is very important we move on without hitches.”
Citing the small courtroom and recalling a previous agreement, he threatened to move the proceedings online if decorum was not maintained. “I don’t want to be pushed to take the case virtually; we have the facility,” the judge warned.
About The Author
