00:00Founder of Sahara Reporters News Media and the organizer of the Free Namdi Kano protest, Omiele Sawari has refuted and debunked the reports circulating in some sections of the media that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped the upcoming Monday, October 20 mass protest organized to demand the release of the detained Biafra Republic agitation leader, Marzi Namdi Kano, saying,
00:25The media report is false and a calculated attempt to distract members of the public from coming out to join the protest, adding, Namdi Kano is so sick that the people must come out now to set him free.
00:37The sickness as alleged by Omiele Sawari apparently challenged the medical report issued by the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA who had submitted its panel report before the trial court on Thursday that Namdi Kano is fit to face trial, that,
00:53The sickness is not life-threatening, but, Punch newspaper reporter at the court on Thursday reported that it was the Department of State Services, PSS lawyer, who happened to be one of the parties in the dispute that presented the NMA medical report before the court,
01:10We are yet to ascertain the independency, fairness, objectivity, accuracy and transparency of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA in conducting the medical examination.
01:21In a statement on Saturday, Omiele Sawari said,
01:25The Federal High Court in Abuja has not stopped the proposed free Namdi Kano protest slated for Monday, October 20, 2025.
01:34Contrary to the misleading claims being circulated by police lawyers and sections of the media,
01:40no order was granted restraining citizens from exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
01:46Justice Umar of the Federal High Court declined to issue any ex-party order sought by the police to halt the nationwide protest altogether.
01:55What exists is a purported, court order, obtained in chambers by lawyers of the police,
02:01which has not been served on anyone, asking that protesters not protest at Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Eagle Square, and a certain Shehushigari Way,
02:11the latest false claims designed to confuse the public and discourage participation.
02:16The protest date is sacrosanct. The movement is unstoppable.
02:20In another statement, Omiele Sawari said,
02:24I was deeply involved in the struggle for the validation of the June 12 election,
02:28and I remember vividly how the system operated back then,
02:32how they weaponized the judiciary to buy time, to deceive the public, and to justify injustice.
02:37They kept saying, Aviola's case is in court, using that as a shield for tyranny,
02:43until they eventually killed him a day before his, supposed, release.
02:48It was a well-orchestrated tragedy disguised as legal processes.
02:53Today, I see the same script being replayed with Marzi Namdi Kano,
02:57the same manipulation, the same excuses, fake narrators, fake protesters,
03:02the same abuse of process. The language has not changed.
03:07Only the victims have. History is repeating itself before our eyes.
03:12And just as we fought to expose the truth then, we must do so now, before it's too late.
03:18The Nandi Kano I saw in court on October 16th is very ill.
03:23We must rescue him before another citizen is sacrificed to the bloodthirsty Nigerian elite club.
03:28Punch newspaper had during the week reported that the Nigerian Medical Association on Thursday
03:35informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that the illness of the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra,
03:41Namdi Kano, is not life-threatening.
03:44The medical panel set up by the NMA president said it had concluded the health assessment
03:49ordered by the court on the IPOB leader and found that Kano is fit to stand trial.
03:55About two weeks ago, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho,
04:00directed the association to independently assess Kano's health status following conflicting medical
04:06reports presented by the defense and the prosecution.
04:10While DSS counsel, Mr. Awamalo Adigbo-Egba, S.A.N.,
04:14maintained that Kano's health could be adequately managed at the DSS medical facility,
04:19the defense counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpizu, S.A.N.,
04:24insisted that his client's health was deteriorating and that he should be taken to the national hospital for proper care.
04:30This prompted Justice Omotosho to order the NMA to conduct an independent medical examination to determine,
04:37among other things, whether the DSS medical facility could cater to Kano's needs
04:42or if he should be transferred to the national hospital as requested by the defense.
04:46The report is also expected to determine whether Kano is fit to stand trial.
04:52However, at the previous sitting, Omotosho had to adjourn for October 16th
04:58for the presentation of Kano's medical examination report by the NMA
05:02due to the inability of the panel to conclude its assessment of the IPOB leader's health status
05:08and present its findings before the court.
05:10The DSS requested a one-week adjournment to allow the NMA medical board to conclude its investigation.
05:18Kano is currently being prosecuted by the federal government on charges relating to alleged terrorism.
05:24According to the panel's report, which was submitted to the court on October 13th
05:29by the prosecution team led by Awomelo and partly read in open court during Thursday's proceedings,
05:35the medical body stated that the defendant's ailment does not pose any immediate danger to his life
05:41and confirmed that he is fit to stand trial.
05:44Relying on the medical findings and in the absence of any objection from counsel to the parties,
05:50Omotosho ruled that the court was satisfied that the defendant could proceed with his trial
05:54and okay the medical facility of the DSS for his medical care.
05:58The judge consequently granted Kano six consecutive days, beginning from October 23rd to 30, to open and close.
06:07The defendant has until the 30th day of October to close his defense, Omotosho said.
06:13Additionally, Justice Omotosho granted an oral application by Kano's lead counsel,
06:19Chief Kano Agabi, S.A.N., seeking permission for a private consultation
06:24between the defendant and his legal team outside the Department of State Services' premises.
06:30Agabi had argued that the defense team feared the discussions with Kano might be monitored or recorded by the DSS.
06:37The court therefore approved that the private meeting be held within the courtroom,
06:42with only Kano and his lawyers present.
06:45The consultation is scheduled to take place between 9 a.m. and 12 noon on October 22nd,
06:50ahead of the resumption of the trial on October 23rd.
06:55The court adjourned for continuation of the trial and commencement of Kano's defense to the 23rd of October 2025.
07:03We have reported that Justice Mohammed Gaba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday
07:09apparently rejected the plans by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokan,
07:15to stop the upcoming Monday, October 20th planned mass protests by Nigerians to demand the release of the detained Biafra Republic agitation leader,
07:25Mazin Amdi Kano, but, according to the organizer of the protest, Omiele Sawari,
07:30after the judge initially declined to grant the Nigeria Police Force an ex-party motion to stop the planned protest in the open court,
07:39the Federal High Court Judge, Justice Umar reportedly granted the motion in chambers,
07:45imposing a ban on protests at Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, or Unity Fountain in Abuja.
07:51We await a certified true copy of the order, which our lawyers will review.
07:55The protest remains unstoppable, while this is ongoing.
07:59The United States, U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has warned America citizens to be far from the protest areas
08:06and limit their movements in the Nigeria capital city, Abuja, saying,
08:11the planned protest may lead to disruptions and violence.
08:16We have also reported that the Nigerian Army Authority has issued a statement,
08:20denying threat messages issued against members of the public ahead of the planned mass protests
08:26slated for October 20th, 2025, to demand for the release and freedom of the detained Biafra Republic agitation leader,
08:34Mazin Amdi Kano, just as the organizer and chief campaigner, Omiele Sawari,
08:40the publisher of Sahara Reporters News Media met to seek understanding with the former president of Nigeria,
08:45Goodluck Abele Jonathan, who, according to Sawari, promised to visit President Bola Ahmed Talubu to discuss the issue with him.
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