By Taiye Agbaje
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, stood down proceeding to allow Nnamdi Kanu file the process and depose to the affidavit in his defence in the ongoing alleged terrorism offences.
Justice James Omotosho stood down the matter after the Department of State Service (DSS)’ lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, applied for a standdown to allow Kanu file the document.
The development occurred shortly after the case was called and Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), alleged that the DSS officers did not allow him to file the process in his defence.
“My lord, I don’t know how to say this. I have a process here to file which has not been allowed for the last three days.
“I have the process for my defence . I don’t know if my lord will allow me to file it for my defence,” he prayed.
Justice Omotosho then sought a response from the DSS officers in court on why Kanu had not been allowed to file the document.
One of the operatives of the security agency stood up and addressed the court.
The officer said after the adjournment on Wednesday, Kanu told them that he wanted to file a process.
“We waited for him (Kanu) and he could not file the process and we left,” he said.
He said on Thursday, they got information again at the office that Kanu wanted to file the process.
He said if the defendant wants to file a process in court, they have a standard procedure and protocol for Kanu’s movement to guarantee his safety and safety of others around.
He explained that a letter ought to be written by his former lawyers, who are now consultants, to the DSS management before he could be allowed.
“We only got the information from our officers who are detailed to him. So that creates a logistic problem,” he said.
Also responding, Awomolo said the protocol for Kanu’s movement is dictated by the order of the court.
“However, we will asked for a standdown for about an hour my lord to allow him file the process,” he said.
But Kanu disagreed with the DSS officer on his submission.
“What he just narrated was not correct,” he said.
“When I was down stair looking for the process on Wednesday, they (the officers) said let us go and you will be brought back the next day,” he said.
Kanu alleged that he had also told the DSS officers that the court officers could be allowed to bring the stamp for him to depose to the affidavit, but they refused.
Chief Awomolo then said that the issues, as difficult as it seemed, could be made easier by Kanu’s consultants (counsel).
He said he was not aware that Kanu planned to file a process.
“I was not aware of this. If they (consultants) can talk to me or the Legal Department at the DSS, they are their colleagues, the matter would have been resolved.
“They can speak to them (Legal Department). They (the consultants) equally have my phone number; they can call me,” Chief Awomolo said.
The judge, who stood down the matter, ordered the officers at the court registry, and the commissioner for oath, to come into the court with the stamp to attend to Kanu.
“The defendant will file here while we take other matters,” the judge said.
Justice Omotosho further made an order allowing the court workers to go to the DSS office with the court stamp whenever Kanu will be a deponent to a document.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kanu, who is expected to open his defence today, is standing trial on alleged terrorism offences. (NAN)
