Court bans Nnamdi Kanu’s sister-in-law for live-streaming trial proceedings
A Federal High Court in Abuja has banned Favour Kanu, the wife of Prince Fineboy Kanu (younger brother of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu), from attending the next three court sessions after she admitted to live-streaming the proceedings on her Facebook page. The ban was imposed by Justice James Omotosho on Tuesday after Favour apologised for her actions, which the judge deemed could amount to contempt of court.
Despite pleas for leniency from her husband's lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, Justice Omotosho stood firm on the ban, expressing disbelief that Favour would repeat the offense despite having her phone seized during a previous court date for a similar infraction. "I want to hear from her. Were you not the one who took your phone?" the judge inquired. He further noted, "I did not give the order to forfeit that phone. I don’t know if she might be a wife to my brother (Nnamdi Kanu)." Prince Fineboy Kanu then confirmed, "She is my wife." Justice Omotosho warned against actions that could delay the trial and assured that justice would be served.
During the proceeding, a federal government witness, identified as BBB, testified that Nnamdi Kanu is the founder of the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The witness made this claim while being examined by the federal government’s lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo. At the trial's outset, Awomolo requested the court to conceal the witnesses' identities and protect them for security reasons due to the serious nature of the terrorism charges against Kanu. Justice Omotosho granted the prosecution's request.
Kanu, who originally faced a 15-count charge of terrorism and treason, saw the charges reduced to 7 after the court struck out eight counts in April 2022 for lack of substance. At Tuesday's resumed trial, BBB testified that he was assigned by the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate Kanu. He stated, "the defendant is the operator of Radio Biafra and the founder of the Eastern Security Network."
Efforts by Awomolo to tender a letter authorizing the witness's investigation were met with opposition from defense counsel Kanu Agabi, who argued that they had not been served the document. The prosecution withdrew the document, and the court granted the withdrawal. Agabi also opposed the admissibility of video evidence tendered by Awomolo for the same reason. Kanu supported his counsel's submission. Justice Omotosho ordered that all trial materials be served in advance and listed properly, emphasizing that no document would be admitted unless previously disclosed to the defense.
The prosecution also informed the court that it had filed a motion for the release of certain evidence already tendered as exhibits (items numbered 1 to 28 and 30 to 39). The court directed that the motion be refiled, with each exhibit explicitly identified and properly referenced.
Earlier, under re-examination by Awomolo, witness AAA stated that he understood Kanu’s actions as driven by secessionist agitation, believing Kanu was pushing for the secession of some parts of Nigeria.