Headline

IPOB: Stop Writing Me Letters On Kanu’s Trial, Judge Warns Lawyer, Shifts Trial To Next Year

Published

4 years ago

December 2, 2021

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday issued a stern warning to Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer to the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu to stop writing letters directly to her in respect of the trial of his client.

The Judge complained that the lawyer had written two lengthy letters to her directly as against the procedure of channelling such letters through the Registrar of the court.

Justice Nyako, while making her position known in the open court, said she will not take kindly to a repeat of breach of procedure to reach court on such issue.

Although the lawyer did not react to the Judge’s warning, he sought to move two motions on notice on behalf of his client.

Kanu’s lawyer had approached the court with a motion on notice seeking abridgement of time to bring back the trial of the Biafran leader from January 19 next year to an early date in December.

The Biafran leader was, however, not in court to witness proceedings as he was not brought by the Department of the State Service DSS where he has been on remand since his re-arrest by the Federal Government after jumping bail earlier granted him.

The Federal Government through its counsel, Mr Shuaib Labaran informed the Judge that his client has filed a counter-affidavit to vehemently oppose the request to abridge time in the trial that had been fixed for January next year.

Justice Nyako, who was taken aback by the motive of the motion, told Kanu’s lawyer that there was no judicial time for her court to bend backwards the trial date.

In the drama that ensued, the case diary of the court was read to the lawyer to establish that the court has crowded cases to attend to.

However, following the persistent plea, Justice Nyako agreed to shift other cases slated for January 18 to accommodate Kanu’s trial which will last till January 19 and 20.

In another drama, Ejiofor sought to move another application by Kanu challenging the competence of the 7-count treasonable felony charges brought against him by the federal government.

The move was resisted by the federal government lawyer on the ground that the motion was not ripe for hearing and that the business slated for the day was the motion for abridgement of time only.

DAILY POST reports that Justice Nyako agreed with the government lawyer and rejected the bid to bring the motion forward.

However, following another request on behalf of Kanu by his lawyer, Justice Nyako ordered DSS to allow Kanu to practice his faith, change his clothes and be given the maximum possible comfort in the detention facility.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.