Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has pleaded not guilty to the 15 charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, preferred against him by the Federal Government. He pleaded not guilty before Justice Binta Nyako when the case resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.Kanu, who was brought into the courtroom around 10:15 am, said he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him, even as he complained from the dock that some counts in the amended charge were similar.
Meanwhile, immediately the embattled IPOB leader finished taking his plea, the prosecution counsel, Labaran Magaji, told the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial, adding that he brought two witnesses to testify against the defendant. However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome told the court that he had on Tuesday evening, filed a 43-paged preliminary objection for the charge to be quashed and struck out without the matter proceeding to trial.
Labaran, however, argued that Kanu’s two applications were not ripe for hearing, stressing that he will require time to go through them so as to be able to respond. In a brief ruling, Justice Nyako noted that since Kanu’s first application is challenging the propriety of his trial, as well as the competence of the charge against him, the court ought to hear it first. The court, subsequently, adjourned till February 16 to hear the pending application.
Meanwhile, a State High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State has ordered the Federal Government to pay one billion naira to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu had approached the Court demanding five billion naira over the invasion of his father’s house by the military on September 10, 2017.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Benson Anya stated that the Federal Government violated the IPOB leader’s fundamental rights. Justice Anya also ordered the Federal Government to issue a letter of apology to Kanu.
Chidozie Chima | September 20, 2024
