By our reporter/ Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Wednesday pleaded not guilty on a 15-count amended charge of treasonable felony preferred against him by the federal government.
In the amended charge, the federal government accused Kanu of attempting to use his broadcasts to “destabilise the fundamental political and economic structures of Nigeria”.
He was accused of inciting the public “to stage a violent revolution in furtherance of an act of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria”.
He was also accused of illegally importing a radio transmitter known as, Tram 500L, concealed in a container of used household items.
The government further alleged that Kanu issued a deadly threat that anyone that flouted his sit-at-home order should be killed.
According to the charges, as a result of Kanu’s command, banks, schools, marketplaces, shopping malls, and filling stations were closed to the public, and vehicular movements halted throughout the country’s south-east.
Following Kanu’s plea, prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, informed the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial, but Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s lead counsel, informed the court that he filed a 43-paged preliminary objection opposing the charges.
“We are further asking that the defendant should be discharged and acquitted as there is nothing in this charge. It has no basis at all,” he said.
“We also have a motion requesting the court to grant bail to the defendant.”
But Labaran argued that Kanu’s two applications were not due for hearing.
In a brief ruling, Binta Nyako, the judge, said since Kanu’s first application is challenging the propriety of his trial as well as competence of the charge against him, the court ought to hear it first.
“As for the second motion (on the issue of bail), I don’t even want to talk about it, at least not at this stage,” Nyako held.
The judge adjourned the case till February 16 to hear Kanu’s pending application.
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