The Economic Community of West
Africa ECOWAS Court, has again adjourned hearing into the fundamental rights
suit filed by leader of the indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Mr. Kanu’s suit filed in March
2016 is yet to reach its hearing stage at the court since it was first brought
before it.
The case had been adjourned in
November 2017, after a previous postponement a month before that time,
following applications by parties in the matter.
On Tuesday the court presided by
Justice Hemeye Mahdmadane announced its decision to make the further
adjournment after entertaining a fresh application by the prosecution.
Mr. Mahmadane said the court’s
decision to adjourn is based on the fact that motions brought before the court
in November were yet to be translated into English language.
At the opening of session on
Monday, the prosecution counsel, Maimuna Shiru, informed the court, that her
client had a motion seeking to keep the court abreast of the recent
developments in the matter.
According to Ms. Shiru, her
motion seeks to inform the ECOWAS court that IPOB had already been proscribed
and that the Federal High Court in Abuja had affirmed the proscription of the
group.
Reacting to the recent
application, however, Mr. Ejiofor accused the prosecution of making unnecessary
motions aimed at preventing the case from succeeding.
The court, however, warned Mr.
Ejiofor to desist from making such utterances in court.
The case was adjourned to May 30.
Speaking to journalists outside
the court premises, Mr. Ejiofor reiterated his points during the hearing.
“I had told them in court that
adjourning this matter any further will give the insinuation to the lay man on
the street that this court is not impartial. This is a fundamental rights suit
that is supposed to be heard speedily. They keep adjourning it, giving the
prosecution the room to be making fresh applications. If something happens at
the Federal High Court today, tomorrow, they will bring a fresh application,”
Mr. Ejiofor said.
In a reaction, however, Ms. Shiru
said contrary to the claims by Mr. Ejiofor, they had made only one application,
regarding the fundamental rights suit.
“We are fully ready to go on with
this case. I don’t know why the applicant is trying to give the court an
erroneous impression that we are prolonging the case. We have only filed a
motion. One motion, which is our right. There are so many developments in this
matter. And it behoves on us. It is our duty to inform the court about any
facts on this matter,” Ms. Shiru said.
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