Nnamdi Kanu making an appearance at the fedral high court, abuja
At the continuation of the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra at the Federal High Court this morning in
Abuja, a yet another drama played out when Kanu's lead defence counsel,
Chucks Muoma, accused his clients (Nnamdi Kanu - and two others -
Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi), of judicial misconduct, and
threatened to withdraw from the case.
Benjamin Madubugwu, second defendant, who is standing trial with
Kanu, announced to the court that he no longer wanted Muoma to represent
him.
Muoma who described the sudden change of counsel as an affront to him, declaring “my appearance in this case will be conditional”, he told Justice Tsoho:
“My lord I am the lead counsel in this matter and courtesy demands that
the introduction of a new counsel should be made with my consent.
“I am a very busy counsel. I am not chasing the priest, the
priest is chasing me. If this counsel had come in to be lead counsel, it
will be a different case, but he is coming to take away one of my
clients. Until this clarifications are made, my further appearance is
forestalled.
“I cannot do the wrong thing after almost 45 years at the bar. My conscience cannot allow me to pretend,” he said.
While responding, the new counsel, Amoebi Nzelu, representing the
second defendant, explained how he became counsel to Madubugwu. He noted
that he was very fond of Muoma who hailed from the same village in
Anambra as himself and would not want anything that rightfully belonged
to his ‘elder brother’.
“Only yesterday at Kuje prison, I was called upon to represent
one of the clients. The records are there. I tried to reach one of the
counsels by name Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who told me this morning that he was
aware of the development, since I did not have the number of the lead
counsel.
“The SAN and I are from the same LGA, Orifite in Anambra State.
In Orifite. He is the eldest in this profession, and followed by
another person, and myself.
“I am not struggling to take your position. I cannot struggle
with my elder brother. I am the third in command, in Orifite, while he
is the first in command,” Nzelu said, adding that in criminal matters, the law allows a defendant to choose his counsel.
Muoma who reacted to Nzelu’s comments, said, “I m not blaming
Amoebi Nzelu. I am blaming my clients, you should have informed your
counsel. Let me know how your minds are working.”
The lead prosecution counsel was absent in court, and the case was later adjourned to September 26 to 29.
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