Chief Mike Ozekhome, (SAN), the lead Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, raised serious concern over the deteriorating sight of his client.
Ozekhome stated this during the resumes trial of the IPOB leader at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
This is socio-economic activities were crippled across the five states in the Southeast geo-political zone due to Sit-At-Home order by IPOB members.
Markets, shops, filling stations, commercial banks, and business premises were shut in major towns and communities in the commercial towns of Nnewi, Onitsha, Awka, and their environs.
Also, roads were deserted while motor parks at Upper Iweka, Awka capital town, Ekwuluobia, Nkpor, New Motor Parts Market, Building Materials Market, and BridgeHead Drugs Market and adjoining locations.
Residents stayed indoors thought the day while schools did not open for normal academic activities even as parents did not allow their wards to go to school for fear of being attacked by hoodlums.
Operatives of the state police command went round the towns to ensure peace and order.
The situation in Orlu town and adjoining communities of Okporo, Umutanze, Orsu, Awo Idemili, Amazu, Ihioma, all in Imo state appear worst hit following weeks of a gun battle between men of the local Ebubeagu vigilante/Special force and IPOB/ESN members.
It was learned that youths in the affected towns and communities have fled their homes as the number of deaths and burnt buildings, as well as other essential properties, continue to increase by the day.
Kanu, is currently facing 15 counts amended charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and others.
He has been detained in the custody of the Department of State Service, (DSS), contrary to the earlier order by the court that Mazi Kanu is transferred to a Correctional Centre and be allowed to change his clothes regularly.
Ozekhome had told the court that his client’s pair of eyeglasses was confiscated in 2015, when he was initially arrested by DSS operatives, following his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.
He pointed out that a new pair of eyeglasses that Kanu bought was seized from him during his extraordinary rendition from Kenya.
Ozekhome frowned that despite an express order of the court, the DSS refused to allow the IPOB leader to have a change of clothing.
According to him, the security agency refused to allow Kanu to receive new clothes that were brought to him by his younger brother, Emmanuel.
The Human Rights lawyer said, “My Lord will still see the defendant in the same uniform which my lord warned against in the last proceedings. It will be recalled that they had on that day alleged that he said that he preferred to wear the same cloth because it is designers.”
“However, since that time, the younger brother of the defendant, his lawyer, and sister have gone three times with materials for him to change, but they refused to collect them. So bad was it that Ejiofor had to call the Director of Legal Services and complained to him.”
“The Director told him that he would do something about it, that he would contact the Director of Operations to ensure that the order was carried out. But since then, nothing has been done. They have not allowed him to change his clothes.”
While stressing on Kanu’s sight, Ozekhome said: “My lord, since 2015, his glasses were taken from him. The one he wore before his extraordinary rendition from Kenya was also taken from him. Till now, he does not have glasses to wear and his sight is deteriorating.”
“My Lord we do not want the Defendant to go blind, that is why we have decided to bring it to the attention of the court.”
However, Justice Binta Nyako said she would look into the matter canvassed by Ozekhome and adjourned the case to April 8th.
