Trial of Nnamdi Kanu - wat next for di IPOB leader

Secessionist leader Nnamdi Kanu on Monday burst out for court and accuse Justice Binta Nyako of bias for im ongoing trial.

E argue say di judge don already comot hersef from di matter, so she no suppose come back to continue di trial.

Di situation make di judge to adjourn di case indefinitely. Dis mean say na till further notice and no new date to continue di trial.

Di case make waves across Nigeria and for social media wey make BBC Pidgin decide to reach out to law experts to know wetin go be di situation of Nnamdi Kanu moving forward.

'E dey unconstitutional to adjourn criminal case indefinitely'

Barrister Victor Opara (SAN) tell BBC Pidgin say judge no suppose adjourn criminal case indefinitely, sake of say evri defendant get right to be tried within a reasonable time.

Di SAN say "you suppose put a date to di adjournment, e dey unconstitutional to adjourn criminal matter indefinitely, dat mean say you just keep di defendant in a limbo".

E add say "you fit adjourn di matter and give reason why you adjourn am and wetin you wan do within dat period, e fit be pending appeal or fit be say you wan send back di file to di chief judge".

"Normally di judge no suppose continue di matter since she don already remove her hand for di case. I no expect her to continue di matter," Oga Opara tok.

Di lawyer say e dey possible say di judge wan go back to di chief justice so dem go sort out di matter bifor di case go continue.

Wetin be next for Nnamdi Kanu

As e be now, to a layman, di case don dey pending till further notice and nobody fit tell di fate of Mr Kanu.

However, Barrister Opara say di IPOB leader get right to appeal di matter by sending application to court, get originating summons to continue im trial and say im dey entitled to dey tried during a reasonable time.

"Or im fit take up di matter administratively by going to sidon wit di chief judge through im lawyer and know di way out," Opara tok.

Nnamdi Kanu no get right to choose who go try am

For video wey dey fly upadan for social media, Nnamdi Kanu dey para say "poor knowledge of di law dey kill Nigeria".

Di secessionist leader say di judge no fit try am as e don comot hersef from di matter.

But Barrister Victor Opara say defendants no get right to refuse trial and no get right to choose who go be di judge for dia matter.

E say "to choose who go preside over any matter na di job of di chief judge.

"You no fit tok say you refuse to be tried, you no suppose tok so for court, if you no dey comfortable wit di proceedings, you fit take action in court to raise your concerns and court go make decision on di matter.

"E must respect di institution, no be about Justice Nyako, na about di institution. If you refuse to go on wit di trial, dem go do di trial witout you, if di prosecution lead evidence against you and if you no challenge di evidence, dem go convict you."

Court fit try pesin in absentia

As Nnamdi Kanu tok say Justice Nyako no get right to try am, we ask di lawyer weda di court fit proceed wit di trial even if di defendant no gree show face for court.

Di SAN answer say court get right to try a defendant in absentia, but dat na under certain circumstances.

"Di criminal justice law get provision for trial in absentia, but dis fit apply if di suspect jump bail and escape and dem give am opportunity and e no show, dem fit try am," Opara tok.

E say no be wen pesin still dey alive and dey available for trial. If dem do dat one, dem go dey set a wrong precedence.