Tuesday 8 November, 2016
ABUJA--At exactly 12pm, after hearing of the first case, the suit filed against the Nigerian government was called upon for hearing. The FG defence counsel filed an additional case charges against Nnamdi Kanu, but the presiding judges blasted the government's defence team saying, “this is not the rule of law.” The judges, there after called upon Kanu’s legal representative led by Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor while ignoring the FG's team.
Kanu's legal counsel, Barrister Ejiofor, objected the Federal government's application in filing for additional charges on the grounds that the original charges has not been settled and disposed off.
Ejiofor narrated to the panel of judges, how the Nigerian government have been delaying the his client's trial by the introduction of judicial gimmicks to keep Kanu in unlawful detention, adding that that is what they came to achieve today in court by the addition of fresh charges against his client.
When called upon for his defence, the FG's counsel delayed for some minutes before insisting that fresh charges needed to be included in the case.
The ECOWAS court once again reiterated that his prayer for fresh charges did not have grounds in the existing constitution.
On Barrister Ejiofor’s further objection, the regional court told him to note all the errors and present it after the FG legal representative must have been through with his submissions.
There appears to be a moment of drama and mocking of the Federal government's defense team when the ECOWAS judges asked them to explain the rationale behind their absence at the last court sitting of October 5th, but they still could not give a valid reason or excuse which left the court attendees and the entire room laughing out loud as the judges again strongly blasted the government's legal representatives describing it as a “silly excuse.”
Bereft of any further issues to present to the court, the FG defence counsels, all seated down in shame as speechlessness enveloped them.
The Nigerian government defence counsel strongly wanted the additional charges to be hurriedly added this same day hearing is held, they tried forcing the new charges’ files at the court when the court has not given his final ruling.
However, Ejiofor stood up and tabled a good explanation on how the regional court works and why it should remain strong to stand firm for justice which they have been known for years. He also narrated to the ECOWAS court how the Nigerian government refused to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally as against the judicial rulings of previous judge, adding that this shows a clear disobedience to the rule of law.
The court after listening to both parties adumbration, proceeded to ad5ourn the case to 9th of february, 2017.
Eze Afrika
