Kanu kicks as FG files fresh terrorism charges

Justice Binta Nyako has fixed Monday for Nnamdi Kanu’s team of lawyers and the Federal Government prosecution team to address the court on the ongoing case between the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the government.

This came after the Federal Government filed an amended seven counts bordering on terrorism against the detained leader of IPOB.

The amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 was entered before the Federal High Court in Abuja, and contained all earlier sustained allegations against the IPOB leader.

As a result of the amended charges, it is to be argued whether FG can proceed to re-arraign the IPOB leader on the amended charge despite the October 13 judgment.

Recall that the Court of Appeal had discharged Kanu of all the allegations against him, while appeals on the subject matter were still pending before the Supreme Court.

However, the FG, in the new amended charges, alleged that Kanu had issued a deadly threat via a broadcast aired and received across the country that anyone who disobeyed his sit-at-home order in the South-East should write his or her will.

It also contended that the resulting effect of the broadcast had caused banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations in the southeastern states to shut down their operations, a development, it said was affecting citizens and leading to grounding of vehicular movements.

The Federal Government further alleged that the IPOB leader had between 2018 and 2021 made inciting broadcasts received and heard in Nigeria instigating the public to hunt and kill Nigerian security personnel and their family members, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

Furthermore, FG alleged that Kanu had between March and April 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulisiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State a radio transmitter known as Tram 50L concealed in a container of used household items thereby committing an offence contrary to section 47 (2) (a) of Criminal Code Act Cap, C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, adding that he also directed members of the IPOB “to manufacture bombs”.

(Punch)