The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled further proceedings for March 4 in a new N1 billion lawsuit initiated by Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government and three others. The named respondents include the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and its Director General.
The decision to adjourn the hearing was made by Justice James Omotosho on Monday due to the absence of Kanu’s legal representative. During the case mention, no counsel appeared for the applicant, while the respondents were represented by Enoch Simon (for the Federal Government and the AGF) and I. Awo for the DSS. Simon explained that the respondents had only received the hearing notice and had not been served with the originating processes of the suit. He attended court as a sign of respect for the judicial process. Awo expressed a similar stance, stating, “We were not served as well.”
In response to the lawyers’ statements, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case until March 4 for a hearing and directed the issuance of a hearing notice to be served on the applicant.
The suit, filed by Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, seeks various declarations and reliefs. These include a declaration that the act of forcibly seizing and photocopying confidential legal documents related to Kanu’s defense, brought to him at the DSS detention facility by his lawyers, amounts to a denial of his rights to choose legal practitioners for his defense. Other reliefs include declarations regarding the refusal or prevention of Kanu’s counsel from taking notes during professional discussions and eavesdropping on confidential consultations with lawyers, among others. The suit also seeks an injunction, an official letter of apology, and a monetary compensation of N1 billion for damages suffered due to the infringement of his rights.