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The trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), resumed on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Binta Nyako.
On March 19th, the judge will resume the proceedings and hear at least two witnesses called by the prosecution.
This resumption marks a significant development in the case, following the Supreme Court's December 2023 decision to reinstate the trial.
The Court of Appeal had previously acquitted Mr. Kanu, citing irregularities in his arrest and detention, but the Supreme Court reversed that decision, allowing the trial to proceed.
The prosecution team also witnessed a major change, with Adegboyega Awomolo, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria, taking the lead role.
The Federal Government has strategically reshuffled its prosecution team, bringing in Mr Awomolo as the first external prosecutor since the case began in 2015.
Mr Awomolo previously secured the conviction of a former lawmaker in a high-profile bribery case, demonstrating the government's seriousness in pursuing this case.
Mr Kanu's defence lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, argued for his client's release on bail, citing Mr Kanu's deteriorating health and limitations imposed by the authorities on his ability to prepare for his defence.
He highlighted the difficulties faced due to alleged eavesdropping by State Security Service (SSS) officials on lawyer-client communication.
However, Mr. Awomolo strongly objected to the bail request and the preliminary objection raised by the defence. He argued that the requests lacked merit and were intended to delay the proceedings.
The court's decision on both the bail application and the commencement of the trial is expected on March 19th.
This case continues to garner significant attention, and the coming weeks will be crucial as legal arguments unfold and witnesses are called to testify.
