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ProfRem
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There was drama at a Federal High Court in Abuja today, December 23, when Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra and a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) made an objection in court.
But instead of answering the clerk’s question, Kanu began by saying he has an objection to make. His counsel, Vincent Obetta, in his advice urged his client to wait for the case to be fully mentioned before any further objection.
After the clerk was done with calling of the case and the accused person, the judge, A. R. Mohammed, said: “It will be good to appreciate and take into consideration the objection raised by the defendant.”
At the judge’s permission, Nnamdi Kanu went further with his objection.
He said: “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 perversion of justice.
“Your lordship, previous court rulings have been given by courts of competent jurisdiction in this country, Nigeria which were not carried out by the DSS.”
The prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Diri, having heard the objections of the defendant said: “First, he objects trial by your lordship because he believes he is not going to get fair trail. Two, he said, the trial before your lordship will amount to perversion of justice.
“He said the rule of the law is clear and that the defendant may object to his trial at any time.
“Your lordship before the defendant can object to his trial, he has to file an application objecting his trial before this court.”
He said in that application the defendant is expected to exhibit special evidences why he should not be tried by a particular court.
Diri said that this will enable the court and the prosecutors to properly reply to the defendant.
“And this has not been done in this case,” he added.
Quoting section 396 sub section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Diri said an objection trial may be raised by the defendant only after the plea of the defendant is taken, but not before.
Diri said: “My lordship, what the defendant just did is putting the cart before the horse.”
He further urged the court to overrule the objection of the first defendant and order that the charges filed by the prosecution before the court be read to the three defendants for the purpose of taking their plea.
- Naij
But instead of answering the clerk’s question, Kanu began by saying he has an objection to make. His counsel, Vincent Obetta, in his advice urged his client to wait for the case to be fully mentioned before any further objection.
After the clerk was done with calling of the case and the accused person, the judge, A. R. Mohammed, said: “It will be good to appreciate and take into consideration the objection raised by the defendant.”
At the judge’s permission, Nnamdi Kanu went further with his objection.
He said: “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 perversion of justice.
“Your lordship, previous court rulings have been given by courts of competent jurisdiction in this country, Nigeria which were not carried out by the DSS.”
The prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Diri, having heard the objections of the defendant said: “First, he objects trial by your lordship because he believes he is not going to get fair trail. Two, he said, the trial before your lordship will amount to perversion of justice.
“He said the rule of the law is clear and that the defendant may object to his trial at any time.
“Your lordship before the defendant can object to his trial, he has to file an application objecting his trial before this court.”
He said in that application the defendant is expected to exhibit special evidences why he should not be tried by a particular court.
Diri said that this will enable the court and the prosecutors to properly reply to the defendant.
“And this has not been done in this case,” he added.
Quoting section 396 sub section of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Diri said an objection trial may be raised by the defendant only after the plea of the defendant is taken, but not before.
Diri said: “My lordship, what the defendant just did is putting the cart before the horse.”
He further urged the court to overrule the objection of the first defendant and order that the charges filed by the prosecution before the court be read to the three defendants for the purpose of taking their plea.
- Naij
