A federal High Court sitting in Abuja has cautioned the defence team of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against delay in the conduct of his ongoing terrorism trial.

Justice James Omotosho issued the caution yesterday after Paul Erokoro, who conducted the defence’s case, suddenly requested adjournment midway into his cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.

Reacting to Erokoro’s request for adjournment, prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, expressed discomfort and objected. Awomolo reminded the court that it had, on the last date, chosen to allocate sufficient time for the defence to conclude with the second prosecution witness between May 21 and 22.

He wondered why Erokoro suddenly became unwilling to continue with the witness. Erokoro, however, said he decided to ask for an adjournment because the defence plans to play some video recordings which were not immediately available in court.

In a ruling, Justice Omotosho agreed with Awomolo’s observation that the court, on May 14, chose to clear its schedule to enable the defence to conclude with the second prosecution witness.

The judge, however, agreed to grant the adjournment, warning that the court will deem the defence to have closed its cross-examination of the witness should the defence team fail to conclude with the witness on May 22.

Earlier, the lead defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi, and Awomolo, expressed concern about the conduct of a member of the defence’s legal team, Alloy Ejimakor, who they accused of being behind the misrepresentation of the court’s proceedings on his social media platforms.

Agabi said he got a letter from the prosecution, expressing concerns about some publications made on social media, noting that he then sought the court’s opinions on the issue.

At the resumption of cross-examination yesterday, the second prosecution witness said he did not know whether Radio Biafra had stopped broadcasting, but that Kanu confirmed being the station’s founder.

The witness, an official of the Department of State Services (DSS), said the agency was not being influenced by politicians or political appointees, but is under the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

He said he was not part of those who arrested Kanu in Kenya, rejecting the suggestion by Erokoro that the DSS was involved in the defendant’s apprehension in Kenya.

The witness, who said his agency does not engage in foreign operations, said it was not part of his brief to ascertain Kanu’s claim that he was kidnapped in Kenya.