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The IGBO separatist group that was prohibited, the native of Biafra (IPOB), had condemned Friday’s decision by judge James Omotosho from the Federal High Court, Abuja, who rejected the submission without cases from its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and mandated him to enter his defense in the scheduled court.
Kanu has submitted a submission last Friday but during the trial, Judge Omotosho rejected the application and stated that the State Service Department (DSS) had made the Prima Facie case against Kanu.
When delivering the verdict, Judge Omotosho said that even though he did not consider the defendant guilty, he had an obligation to prove that he was innocent while being given the right to a fair trial.
“The defendant was still innocent until proven guilty, and the prosecution still had the duty to prove his terrorist and accusations of a crime of betrayal without doubt,” Judge Omotosho said.
“However, the court stated that the defendant had to give an explanation given the testimony of the witnesses prosecutors to him,” he added.
He then ordered Kanu to enter his defense because the prosecution had been able to convince the court without doubt that he had a case to be answered in the alleged allegations of terrorism proposed to him by the Nigerian government.
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But in a statement on Saturday night, Ipob expressed his disappointment with the decision and asked the judge to explain what he meant in his assessment.
In a statement issued by the Director of the Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, Ipob said the decision was a play to shift the burden to the pro-Biafran agitator who was the only crime demanding the determination of his own fate for his people.
“The native people of Biafra (IPOB) strongly condemn the decision of Judge Omotosho from the Federal High Court, Abuja, who stated yesterday that” the defendant needs to explain certain things “in the ongoing trial from our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” said strong.
“We ask Judge Omotosho directly: Explain what kind of things like? Does the judge not know that part 36 (11) Nigeria’s constitution forced the defendant to testify against himself?
“Does the judge not understand that the burden of proof is only on the prosecution, not the defendant? Does the Omotosho judge show that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must fill the gap in the case built on a contradictory witness, there are no reports of investigations, and dependence on the law that is revoked?
“This statement reveals the reality of the Abuja court: Their first task is not for justice, but to the government. By demanding that our leaders” explain, “Judge Omotosho did not apply the law, he helped persecution.
“We reminded the world that Ipob and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stood on the truth and international law. Nigeria’s judiciary must stop this play to shift the burden to an innocent man who is only a” crime “who demands the determination of his own fate for his people,” added the strong.
