ILLEGAL ADJOURNMENTS AS A DELAY TACTICS IN KANU'S CASE.

BIAFRA Since the unlawful detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)and the director of Radio Biafra, the Nigerian judicial system has been exposed to the world on how it perverts justice. Nnamdi Kanu was abducted on October 14, 2015, by Department of State Services (DSS). Five days later, it was reported that Kanu had been granted a bail after a secret arraignment at the Magistrate Court Wuse II. Even though the bail conditions were met, the DSS still flaunted the court's verdict in the show of bully. This was possible because the DSS has the support of the tyrant; Buhari.

Seeing the anger of Biafrans and the continuous disregard to competent court's verdict, the DSS concluded and begged the court to try Nnamdi Kanu in secret. The DSS fears for the lives of witnesses. A plea that was argued by the vibrant (IPOB) legal representatives. After much court dramas, Justice Muhammed ruled that Nnamdi Kanu is innocent and not guilty of any charges he was accused of. Thereby, striking out the case against him by the DSS. Two court verdicts by reputable judges to free Nnamdi Kanu from the dungeon of the DSS was never respected by Buhari. This goes to show the extent Buhari and the DSS are ready to go to use the court in keeping Nnamdi Kanu in jail.

In furtherance to the flaunting of court rulings, the DSS established a fresh charge against Nnamdi Kanu and two other Biafrans: Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi. They were charged with treasonable offenses and he Nnamdi Kanu managing and belonging to ''an unlawful society.'' As enshrined in the United Nations declaration of the rights of Indigenous people is the right of self-determination which Nigeria is a signatory to. Nnamdi Kanu had this to say in objection to most of the attitudes displayed by the DSS and the court:

“Thank you very much my lordship, but my objection is that I will not receive a fair trial before this court, The information I got is that I will not receive a fair trial before this court, I will not sacrifice the due process of law because of speedy court process over the principle of natural process on the altar of speedy release. In other words, I would rather remain in detention than subject myself to a trial that I know amounts to the perversion of justice, Your Lordship, previous court rulings have been given by courts of competent jurisdiction in this country, Nigeria, which was not carried out by the DSS.”

Justice Mohammed after listening to Kanu's objection faulted the DSS for disobeying court orders and verdicts. He noted that ''...after all, justice is rooted in confidence and if any of the parties has no confidence in the court, s/he has the right to say so.” Saving himself and his illustrious from shame and public ridicule, Justice Mohammed granted Nnamdi Kanu's request, and he subsequently bowed out of Nnamdi Kanu's illegal trial.

Since the illegal trial of Nnamdi Kanu commenced, different kind of blunders and illegal verdicts have been seen emanating from some acclaimed professionals. A critical case of one John Tsoho. This judge once rejected the use of masked witnesses against Nnamdi Kanu. How can someone that was arrested in the public be tried in secret? Tsoho totally declined the use of masked witnesses and only weeks later, reverted to allow masked witnesses. What do we call such a judge or judgement?

Regardless of all these systematic delay tactics by the Nigerian government through her judicial arm, the IPOB will not stop at letting the world know how messy the judiciary is in Nigeria. It is glaring that the APC government is using the judiciary to delay the release of Nnamdi Kanu. Nigeria judiciary has failed to allow the prevalence of justice to prevail in Nnamdi Kanu's case. His unconditional release and freedom from all the fabricated allegations against him is what the IPOB yearn for.

Written by Nwaiwu Chukwuebuka,

Editor Obioma Ebere

Published by Udeagha Obasi

For: Umuchiukwu writers.