Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja has fixed further hearing for March 4, 2024 in a fresh N1 billion suit filed by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government and three others.
The other parties named in the suit include the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and its Director General, Yusuf Bichi.
Justice James Omotosho rescheduled the hearing in the fundamental rights enforcement suit on Monday due to the absence of the applicant’s legal representative.
Upon the case being called, no lawyer appeared on behalf of the applicant, while the respondents were represented by two attorneys, Enoch Simon (for the Federal Government and the AGF) and I. Awo for the DSS.
Simon informed the court that his clients had only received the hearing notice and were yet to be served with the suit’s originating processes.
The attorney stated that he was present in court as a gesture of respect for the law. Following the lawyers’ presentations, Justice Omotosho adjourned the proceedings to March 4 and instructed that a hearing notice be issued and served on the applicant.
In the lawsuit filed on behalf of Kanu by his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, the leader of IPOB is seeking a declaration that the respondents’ actions, involving the forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents intended for the preparation of his defense, constituted a violation of his rights to be defended by legal practitioners of his choice.
Additionally, he sought a declaration that the respondents’ actions of prohibiting his counsel from taking notes during professional discussions/consultations at the DSS detention facility, which pertained to the preparation of his defense, amounted to a denial of his right to be provided with adequate facilities for the preparation of his defense by legal practitioners of his choosing, among other claims.