The Federal High Court on Wednesday said it would hear Nnamdi Kanu’s stay of proceedings motion on April 5.
Justice John Tsoho fixed the date after the prosecuting counsel, Mr Mohammed Diri, indicated interest to oppose the motion.
“In the circumstance, the hearing of arguments on this motion is adjourned till April 5,” he said.
Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra alongside Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, were challenging the ruling of the court for witnesses to testify against them behind the screen.
Earlier, Chief Chuks Muoma (SAN), Counsel to the defendants announced to the court on the pending motion.
“My Lordship, after consultation with my clients, we agreed to appeal the ruling of the court given on Monday that prosecution witnesses can testify behind the screen.
“FURTHERANCE to that, we consider it necessary to file this motion for stay of trial pending the determination of the appeal.
“THE appeal against the ruling of the court was filed on March 8 and the motion for stay was filed March 9. The prosecution team has been duly served,” he said.
Muoma further said: “The practice is that once this kind of application is filed, the court should naturally adjourn the matter.”
On his part, Diri said that the prosecution required time to respond properly to the application.
“MY Lord, we will need time to respond to the motion for stay of this trial.
“TODAY was fixed for the commencement of trial, and we have brought our witnesses to court to start the trial only to be served this application this morning in the courtroom,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the applicants were arraigned for treasonable felony, conspiracy and unlawful arms possessions. (NAN)