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The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has urged the Abuja Federal High Court to jail the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Bichi over his refusal to adhere to the court’s ruling regarding his visitation.
On May 20, 2024, the Abuja Federal High Court granted an order modifying the conditions of visitation to Kanu in the DSS detention facility.
The court had ruled that “an order is hereby made varying the condition of visitation to him in custody to 3 days a week. He is to be given a safe and “clean” room to be made available to the Defendant at the present facility to prepare for his defence with his team of counsel not exceeding 5 in number.
“That they should be allowed such a facility that is required for the preparation of his defence and be allowed to take notes.”
However, in a notice to the Abuja Federal High Court, Kanu’s Lead Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor said the DSS Director General had refused to comply with the orders of the court.
Ejimakor notified the court in a notice tagged: “Notice to show cause why an order of committal should not be made,” and forwarded to DAILY POST on Monday.
The notice which had Bichi and the Federal Government as respondents said despite serving the DSS boss had refused to obey the orders despite being served.
According to the notice: “Take Notice that the Defendant will on the ____day of _______, 2024, at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forenoon apply to this court for an order for your committal to prison for having disobeyed the order of this court made on the 20th day of May 2024, which stated in pertinent part as follows:
“That, however, an order is hereby made varying the condition of visitation to him in custody to 3 days a week. He is to be given a safe and “clean” room to be made available to the Defendant at the present facility to prepare for his defence with his team of counsel not exceeding 5 in number.”
“That they should be allowed such a facility that is required for the preparation of his defence and be allowed to take notes.”
“Which Order you disobeyed as follows:
“On every visitation made to the Applicant at the State Security Services detention facility (Headquarters, Abuja) after the issuance and service of the said order and Form 48 thereof, you have not allowed Applicant’s Counsel to go in with writing materials to take notes of their discussions (between the Application can’t and his Lawyers) relating to the preparation of the Applicant for his defense.
“You have not complied with the 3 (three) days per week visitation to the Applicant as was ordered by the court.
“You have not provided a safe and “clean” room to the Applicant at the present facility to prepare for his defense with his team of counsel.
“You have not allowed such facility that is required for the preparation of the Applicant’s defence, which facility you have disallowed on every visitation since the said order was entered, as set out below:
“Interdiction, seizure, perusal and photocopying of legal documents relating to the trial preparation of the Applicant.
“Refusing certain visitors to the Applicant, including those that are Applicant’s potential witnesses and/or who possess information critical to the adequate preparation of the Applicant’s defense to the criminal charges pending against him, particularly as it pertains to cross examination of prosecution witnesses and authentication/impeachment of prosecution’s documentary evidence.
“By not retracing your steps after you were, on the 31st day of May 2024, served with a Form 48 Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Court.
“AND TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that you are hereby required to attend the court on the first-mentioned day to show cause why an Order for your Committal should not be made.”
