The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has filed an application at the Appeal Court to stop his trial.
In the appeal filed through his Lead Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu kicked against his trial by an Abuja Federal High Court presided by Justice Binta Nyako.
A few weeks ago, Ejimakor had declared that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain charges against Kanu.
The Nigerian Government is prosecuting the IPOB leader on terrorism related charges.
In the application filed by Ejimakor at the Court of Appeal, Ejimakor argued, “The Appellant (Nnamdi Kanu) filed this appeal against the Ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division coram: B.F.M Nyako, J. delivered on the 19th March, 2024.
He urged the Appeal Court to: “Set aside the decision/ruling, the subject of the appeal; and in particular: For the trial court to decline jurisdiction to proceed with the hearing of the case unless and until the Appellant is, by the Respondent, granted his right to fair hearing under Section 36(6)(6)(b) and (c) of the Constitution; or in the alternative for the trial court to order an alternative custodial or non-custodial arrangement free of Respondent’s interference with Appellant’s said constitutional right to fair hearing.
“Set aside the order for accelerated hearing of the case in the circumstances of the case where the Appellant is not allowed facilities to prepare for the defence of the charges against him and denied his right to counsel.”
The IPOB leader in the same vein urged the Appeal Court to stay the proceedings pending when the Nigerian Government affords him the constitutional safeguards of being afforded adequate facilities to prepare for his defence and his unfettered right to counsel.