Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB), has commenced contempt proceedings against the federal
government for failing to obey a court order.
Kanu through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, filed Form 49
titled: “Notice to Show Cause Why An Order Of Committal Should Not Be Made,”
before the Abuja federal high court on Monday.
The federal government and Yusuf Bichi, director-general of
the Department of States Services (DSS), are the respondents in the suit.
Kanu is standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on
treasonable felony as preferred against him by the federal government.
On May 20, Binta Nyako, presiding judge, dismissed another
bail application filed by Kanu.
Nyako also refused Kanu’s plea to be transferred from the
custody of the DSS to prison.
The defendant’s request to be placed under house arrest was
also rejected.
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However, the court ordered the DSS to always grant Kanu
access to his lawyers — not exceeding five persons on every visiting day.
The court ordered that Kanu must be given “a clean place” to
consult with his lawyers at the DSS detention facility, adding that he must be
granted access to a doctor of his choice.
But Ejimakor has accused the DSS of refusing to obey the
court order.
“On every visitation made to the applicant at the State
Security Services detention facility (headquarters, Abuja) after the issuance
and service of the said order and Form 48 thereof, you have not allowed
applicant’s counsel to go in with writing materials to take notes of their
discussions (between the applicant and his lawyers) relating to the preparation
of the applicant for his defence,” the court process read.
“You have not
complied with the 3 (three) days per week visitation to the applicant as was
ordered by the court.
“You have not provided a safe and “clean” room to the
applicant at the present facility to prepare for his defence with his team of
counsel.
“You have not allowed such facility that is required for the
preparation of the applicant’s defence, which facility you have disallowed on
every visitation since the said order was entered.”
Ejimakor further stated that the DSS has also refused to
allow “interdiction, seizure, perusal and photocopying of legal documents
relating to the trial preparation of the applicant”.
“Refusing certain
visitors to the applicant, including those that are applicant’s potential
witnesses and/or who possess information critical to the adequate preparation
of the applicant’s defence to the criminal charges pending against him,
particularly as it pertains to cross-examination of prosecution witnesses and
authentication/impeachment of prosecution’s documentary evidence.”
The court is yet to fix a date for hearing.
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