The federal high court in Abuja on Wednesday, 2nd February 2022, fined the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, the sum of ₦200,000 for delaying the trial of four former co-defendants of Nnamd Kanu.

 

The four defendants – Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudike, Benjamin Maduagwu and David Nwaurusi, were being tried for the same charges as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

 

Their trial was halted after Nnamdi Kanu fled the country in 2018, after the invasion of his homsted in Abia State by the military in September 2017, this made Binta Nyako to order a separate trial for Mr Kanu, 

 
 

When the matter was called on Wednesday, no legal representation came for the Federal Government and as the judge was about to take adjournment,

 
 
 

one Mrs Adewumi Aluko from the Federal Ministry of Justice came in and apologized that the Federal Government’s lead counsel was out of the country.

 

 
Justice Nyako ordered that each of Mr Kanu’s former co-defendants be paid ₦50,000 each, by the AGF, for the inconveniences they suffered as a result of the absence of the lead prosecutor from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Shuaib Labaran.
 
 
She announced that two witnesses were in court but will not want to proceed in the absence of the lead counsel and sought for an adjournment.
 
 

Mrs Nyako, who was visibly angry at the way the trial was scuttled on Wednesday, ordered that the total sum of ₦200,000  which must be paid to the defendants before the next trial date fixed for March 17.