The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, Director of Radio Biafra, suffered a setback on Tuesday due to the absence of Magistrate Shuaibu Usman of the Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja.
Kanu is standing trial on a three-count of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to unlawful society, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that, the case which had earlier been fixed for ruling did not hold due to the absence of the magistrate in court.
No reason was given by the court on why the magistrate did not sit.
Speaking to newsmen at the court premises, the defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Vincent Obetta said all efforts to reach the magistrate on phone were not successful.
Obetta appealed to the prosecution, the Department of State Service, to obey the subsisting order of the court to transfer his client to prison custody to enable him have access to him.
He said, “DSS has refused to obey the court order to transfer my client to prison custody.
“I call on the trial judge to order the DSS to transfer my client to prison custody.
“The DSS has flouted the court order which granted my client bail since October 19”.
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