US, UK trash Kanu’s request to be observers at his trial

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has asked the United States and the United Kingdom to send officials to watch his trial, which will take place in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division on January 18, 19, and 20, according to Top Naija.
While the US stated that its workers would not be allowed to attend public meetings, the UK stated that it would not ordinarily attend a court proceeding involving a British citizen.

In separate answers to questions from The PUNCH on Friday, the US Embassy and the British High Commission said these things.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu’s lawyer, wrote to the US and UK embassies in Nigeria on Wednesday, requesting that their officials attend a fair hearing for his client.

NEWSUS and the United Kingdom dismiss Kanu’s request for observers during his trial. On January 18, 2022, it was published 5 hours ago. Nnamdi Kanu, Linda Eze

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has asked the United States and the United Kingdom to send officials to watch his trial, which will take place in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division on January 18, 19, and 20, according to Top Naija.

While the US stated that its workers would not be allowed to attend public meetings, the UK stated that it would not ordinarily attend a court proceeding involving a British citizen.

In separate answers to questions from The PUNCH on Friday, the US Embassy and the British High Commission said these things.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu’s lawyer, wrote to the US and UK embassies in Nigeria on Wednesday, requesting that their officials attend a fair hearing for his client.

The Federal Government has filed a seven-count revised complaint against the IPOB leader.

‘Request for delegate(s)/representative(s) to watch court proceedings…’ reads the letter.

“May we, gratefully, please, request you to send a representative(s) to observe the proceedings of the court on those adjourned dates and on any other date to which further proceedings in the case may be adjourned until the matter is disposed of,” the letter read in part, “In Re: Charge NO. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, Federal Republic of Nigeria V. Nnamdi Kanu.”

“We feel forced to make this request in order to guarantee that our client has a fair trial.” In the circumstances, the immediate request is persuasive, as it ensures that the whole process of our client’s trial is fair and just in all situations. It’s important to realize that his alleged criminal indictment has a political subtext.”

Ejiofor stated that the FG is vested in the outcome of his client’s trial and the criminal accusation proceeding against him.

However, despite the fact that the US Mission has stated that it is carefully monitoring the trial, its officials have stated that they would not be attending the court.

“The US Mission in Nigeria is actively watching Nnamdi Kanu’s trial,” it said. Employees of the US Department of State are not permitted to attend public events.”

“The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) would not ordinarily attend a court hearing involving a British person,” the British High Commission said in response, “but if we do think it acceptable to go, our consular officers would do so in an observational role only.”

When asked if the commission will send observers to the trial, which starts today, Dean Hurlock, a spokesperson for the British High Commission, responded, “We can only offer you this as our response.”

Kanu’s detention has infuriated Biafran separatists and other Nigerians who support his cause. The detention was described by the World Igbo Congress (WIC) as “illegal abduction and international gangsterism.”

Questions were raised after his detention over what was dubbed “Kanu’s contempt for the Nigerian constitution” in absconding bail in 2017. Kanu informed the presiding judge at his appearance in court on June 29, 2021 that the Nigerian military pushed him to escape the country in 2017.

Kanu was charged with “terrorism, treason, connection with a prohibited separatist organisation, inciting public violence through radio broadcasts, and defamation of Nigerian authority through broadcasts” when his trial began in October 2021. In every case, he pled not guilty. Protests and mass strikes called by his followers attended the proceedings.