A Federal High Court in Abuja is refusing to grant an application filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and two others asking for stay of proceedings pending the determination of their appeal against the court’s ruling. Justice James Tsoho in a ruling on Tuesday dismissed the application on the ground that it lacked merit and ordered that the trial would go on as earlier directed by the court. Kanu and his co-defendants are being prosecuted by the Department of State Service on six counts of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.
The Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu and his fellow accused persons appear in court on Tuesday for a ruling on their application. They had asked for stay of proceedings on the basis that the appeal which they filed against the court’s ruling permitting prosecution witnesses to testify behind screen is pending at the Court of Appeal. But delivering ruling on the application, Justice Tsoho relied on provisions of section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits courts from entertaining motions for stay of proceedings with respect to criminal cases.
After dismissing the application, the judge consequently held that the trial would proceed as he had earlier directed on March 7. The trial has been adjourned till June 20 to 23 for prosecution to call its witnesses.
