The judge said: “That kind of cloth cannot be worn in my court.”
Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday declined Nnamdi Kanu’s request to wear “Isi Agu”, a traditional outfit to court for his trial.
This followed his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome’s complaint that the State Security Service (SSS) had refused Mr Kanu to change clothes despite the court order.
He also prayed the court to make an order directing the SSS to release his clients’ pair of eyeglasses so that he could read with it.
The judge then asked the director of the legal department of the SSS why the IPOB leader appeared in his regular Fendi outfit despite the court order.
The officer told the court that Mr Kanu’s family members brought a cloth that has a lion’s heart which “offends our standard operating procedures”.
However, Mrs Nyako asked the defendant, “Kanu, what type of cloth do you want to wear?
“I want to wear the clothes of my people, ‘Isi Agu’,” Mr Kanu replied.
Responding swiftly, the judge said: “That kind of cloth cannot be worn in my court.”
She, however, urged that Mr Kanu should be provided with other clothes before the next adjourned date.
The judge also directed that the security outfit provide another pair of eyeglasses for Mr Kanu if the one taken from him had been misplaced.
Meanwhile, she fixed April 8 for ruling in a preliminary objection filed by the detained IPOB leader.
Mr Kanu is also challenging the validity of the 15-count amended charge preferred against him by the federal government.
(NAN)
