The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, had a private consultation with his legal team led by Kanu Agabi, SAN.
Mr Kanu, who was brought to court by the operatives of the State Security Service, met his lawyers in Justice James Omotosho’s court as earlier ordered.
The private meeting was part of the defence team’s preparation for the commencement of Mr Kanu’s defence scheduled for Thursday.
The development was in compliance with Justice Omotosho’s schedule of proceedings issued on September 16.
The judge had also on October 16 granted the defendant six consecutive days, beginning from October 23, to open and close his defence in view of the accelerated hearing earlier granted in the case.
Mr Agabi, who did not object to the six days granted by the court, however applied orally for the court to grant Mr Kanu’s legal team and opportunity for a private consultation session with his client, outside the premises of SSS office.
Mr Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with Mr Kanu could be tapped or recorded by the security outfit.
Justice Omotosho then granted the request and also acceded to Mr Agabi’s request that the private meeting with Mr Kanu be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present.
By the judge’s directive, the private consultation meeting was to hold within the courtroom between 9am and 12nooon on October 22, while the trial would resume on October 23, when Mr Kanu is expected to open his defence.
(NAN)