Wife of the the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra has revealed that no matter how hard her husband is pushed, he will not
allow secret trial to be used against him. Nnamdi Kanu and his wife Uchechi Okwu-Kanu Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of UK-based Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has said that her husband who is standing trial on 11 counts of treasonable felony will not accept the court’s decision to protect the identity of prosecution witnesses, IBTimes UK reports.
The Federal High Court of Abuja ruled, on 13 December, that witnesses testifying against Kanu would be protected by screens and would be using separate entrances to enter the court, local media reported.
Kanu’s defence team is appealing against the ruling, arguing that it goes against the principles of a fair trial.
“The ruling is not surprising, I knew that she [Justice Binta Nyako] was going to rule against us,” Kanu’s wife, Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, told IBTimes UK.
“Binta Nyako is not an unfair person, looking at her previous cases, but her husband has a case with the government. He was released, but her son is still in custody, so she would not jeopardise the lives of her husband and son for Nnamdi Kanu,” she alleged.
Okwu-Kanu, who said she is not allowed to communicate with her husband, also alleged President Muhammadu Buhari is behind the trial.
“They don’t have evidence against my husband, there is no case here, they have changed the charges several times,” she said.
“He has been accused in the public, they killed several Biafrans in the public, so why try him in secret? We will never allow this to happen, even if takes 20 years.
“How many Boko Haram members have they tried in secret? Nnamadi Kanu is a freedom fighter, not a terrorist. Buhari should re-think this and leave this case alone, if he believes in justice.”
Kanu, who holds both British and a Nigerian passports, was arrested in Lagos on 14 October 2015. He is standing trial along with Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
The Abuja High Court initially ruled in favour of granting bail to Kanu. However, in December 2015, Buhari said the Ipob leader would not be released amid fears he could jump bail and flee to the UK.
Okwu-Kanu expressed concern over her husband’s “deteriorating” health due to the prolonged detention, “but also because he is not receiving treatment for diabetes, and his heart issues”.
Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, confirmed to IBTimes UK the defence is appealing against the ruling. “He was accused in the open. The trial must be conducted in the open,” he said.
” We are appealing against any form of trial that would shield the public from having access to evidence against our client. We want a fair trial for our client. Its it is a right enshrined in our constitution.” The trial has been adjourned to 10 January 2017.
