Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra pleaded not guilty to six count charges of treason leveled against him by the Federal Government.
Kanu was arraigned alongside two others- Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi who also pleaded not guilty to the six count charges was arraigned before Justice James Tsoho of Federal High Court who ordered that the accused be remanded in Kuje prison after their pleas were taken.
The order to remand the Biafra agitators in prison followed complaints by their counsel, Chuks Mouoma (SAN) that the accused persons had been denied access to their families and lawyers since their arrest by the DSS on October 14, 2015.
The Judge overruled the request of the prosecutor, Mohammed Diri, that the accused should continue to be in the custody of DSS.
The Judge has fixed ruling on the bail application by the lawyer to the accused for Monday, 25 January.
Kanu who was arrested in Lagos on 14 October on the allegation that he was plotting the secession of Rpublic of Biafra from Nigeria refused to take his plea when he was arraigned alongside the two accused before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of Federal High Court, Abuja on 23 December.
The Biafra agitator had complained that he cannot get justice from the judge.
The charges against the accused persons read in part, “That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown per sons, now at large, at London, United Kingdom, between 2014 and September, 2015 with intention to levy war against Nigeria in order to force the President to change his measures of being the President of the Federation, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation as defined in Section 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Re- public of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by doing an act to wit: Broadcast on Radio Biafra your preparations for the states in the South- East geo-political zone, South-South geo-political zone, the Igala Community of Kogi State and the Idoma/Igede Community of Benue State to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form themselves into a Republic of Biafra, and thereby committed an offence punish- able under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
“That you, Nnamdi Kanu and others, now at large, between 2012 and September, 2015 at South-East geo-political zone and the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court manage an unlawful society with more than 10 members to wit: unregistered with the Corporate Affairs Commission or any other registration authority to wit. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) thereby committed an offence which is punishable under Section 63 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
“That you, Nnamdi Kanu between the months of March and April, 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor town in Ihiala local Government Area of Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, a radio transmitter known as TRAM 5OL concealed in a container which you described as containing household items, which you so declared and that, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 47(2) (a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.”
Follow Us
