- Court bans Nnamdi Kanu’s sister-in-law for live-streaming trial proceedings
There was a mild drama in court on Tuesday when the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, disowned a lawyer, one Charles Ude, who claimed to be representing him.
Also, the trial judge, Hon. Justice James Omotosho, banned Favour Kanu, the wife of Prince Fineboy Kanu, younger brother of Kanu, from attending the next three court sessions after she streamed the proceedings live on her Facebook page.
Kanu is facing terrorism-related charges before the court.
During the trial, the presiding judge drew the attention of the parties to a letter from one Charles Ude, claiming to be counsel on record for the defendant.
However, the defence legal team denied knowledge of Ude, a stance Kanu himself affirmed, insisting Agabi remained his counsel.
The court also addressed the issue of the overcrowded defence team.
According to the judge, only 16 of the 26 lawyers listed would be allowed, citing a previous agreement and threatening to move the proceedings online if decorum was not maintained.
“I don’t want to be pushed to take the case virtually; we have the facility,” the judge warned.
In the incident involving Favour Kanu, Justice Omotosho recounted how he had previously warned her and refrained from charging her for contempt.
Although Chief Kanu Agabi begged the court for forgiveness on her behalf, Justice Omotosho maintained that she must be barred for three sittings.
He expressed disbelief that she still went ahead to post the video online despite her phone being seized during a previous court date for a similar offence.
“I want to hear from her. Were you not the one who took your phone?” the judge asked.
“I did not give the order to forfeit that phone.”
Favour, when called upon, claimed ignorance of the court still being in session and stated that she had stopped recording immediately after the warning.
“I didn’t know the court was still sitting. The moment you cautioned me, I stopped because it was a livestream,” she said.
The judge, while listening to both explanations, temporarily excused Favour from attending the next three sittings, reiterating the need for order and respect for the court’s process. “We must do things properly. Justice will be done,” he said.
Earlier, lead prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, raised concerns about a motion served on them for the release of certain exhibits tendered in court.
He noted the prosecution objected only to the release of non-perishable items.
During cross-examination of the first prosecution witness (identified as AAA), the defence counsel, Agabi, grilled the witness on his awareness of the charges and previous rulings.
The witness admitted knowing little about the details of the 15-count charge, including several that had reportedly been struck out by the court.
The witness acknowledged awareness of IPOB’s role in enforcing Monday sit-at-home orders, which the defence suggested were among charges that had been dismissed.
Agabi repeatedly highlighted that several serious terrorism-related allegations — including disruption of elections and attacks on federal property — were part of the struck-out charges, a point the witness said he was largely unaware of.
In re-examination, Awomolo asked the witness what he understood by “agitation” in the context of Kanu’s actions.
The witness responded that the defendant was pushing for the secession of parts of Nigeria.
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