The Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has again berated Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja for issuing a bench warrant against him, adding that the Federal Government could not incite the world against him.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State,.
Kanu was quoted as saying “The international and diplomatic community would surely ignore the bench warrant.
“I remain eternally grateful to my sureties for standing by me all through my travails, trials and tribulations.
“It smacks of judicial persecution for Justice Binta Nyako handling my case to claim that my sureties had withdrawn their surety.
“Justice Binta Nyako’s bench warrant against me makes the judiciary complicit in the persecution of innocent people and IPOB since mid 2015.
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“Where a case is for hearing of motion, the trial judge must hear the motion and adjourn for any other process. On no account should they hear a motion and hear the merits of the matter, not to talk about delivering judgment. The judge may consider doing that in the very rare circumstance of consent by parties”
“When a matter has been adjourned for a particular purpose, it is my view that the business of the court on the day the matter is adjourned is the purpose for which it was adjourned.
“It is expected that parties have come prepared for that purpose for which the matter was adjourned. If it is expedient to change the purpose, it cannot be done by the court suo motu (on its own) as the parties must agree.”
He explained that, in March last year a continental human rights court restrained the FG from persecuting of members of IPOB, regretting that the government had yet to obey the order.
Kanu said, “The arrest, detention and murder of IPOB family members is illegal, unconstitutional and in breach of the written laws of Nigeria. The fact that judges and supposed legal practitioners allow this travesty to continue is indicative of the level of ignorance that pervades the Nigerian judiciary.”
Recall that Kanu has been facing trial alongside other IPOB members over alleged treason, and he has been away from the court for months after he was granted bail.
Justice Nyako revoked the bail granted Kanu in 2017 and issued an arrest warrant against him, citing his continued absence from court.