Biafra: Court strikes out six charges against Kanu, others

Nnamdi Kanu
Nnamdi Kanu

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday struck out six of the 11-count charges brought against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Mr. Kanu and three others, David Nwawuisi, Benjamin Madubugwu and Chidiebere Onwudiwe, are facing trial for alleged treason.

The matter continued on Wednesday with the hearing and determination of applications seeking the withdrawal of the charges against the defendants.

Delivering her ruling in the three similar applications brought by the first, second and third defendants in the matter, the presiding judge, Binta Nyako, said counts 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 did not constitute a prima facie case against the defendants.

She said the documents before the court was insufficient to prove the allegation that the IPOB constituted an unlawful society.

She also held that the prosecution failed to prove that the items allegedly imported by the defendants had been banned by the Nigerian government.

Mrs. Nyako struck out the charges and ordered a fresh hearing on the other five counts still proffered against the defendants.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After the plea was taken, counsel to the fourth defendant, E. I. Esene, requested the prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, to withdraw himself from the trial, on the grounds that he (Labaran) had been part of the prosecutors who had interrogated his client before he was charged.

Mr. Esene regarded the involvement of Mr. Labaran in the matter as an “injury to the trial”.

A mild drama then occurred when the first defendant, Mr. Kanu, attempted, yet again to address the court on the manner of trial which he regarded as secret.

Mrs. Nyako however sounded a warning, preventing the degeneration of the hearing into a rowdy session.

She warned the lawyers to advise their client against “unruly behaviour”, stressing that such an attitude would force her to report them to the Chief Justice of the court, so that their matter continues without their presence in court.

The case was adjourned till March 20.

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  • Dazmillion

    If Osinbajo wants to be elected substantive president come 2019, he should release Kanu from prison. You will be shocked that the south east will vote overwhelmingly for him even though most of them dont believe in Kanu or his separatist movement. They will view such a gesture from Osinbajo as the actions of a de-tribalized Nigerian.

    • packingson

      guy!

    • omobabalemomu

      Igbo’s votes are insignificant. Go and vote in your biafraland and leave us alone in your so called zoo.

      • Dazmillion

        I dont need to be an Ibo man to point out an advantageous chesture for the Vice president. By the way, do u think a hausa man will vote for Osinbajo when they believe it is still their turn to rule till 2023

        • PolyGon2013

          Yes, they will. They are getting wiser by the day.

      • Ede 9ja

        Buhari too yet the margin Buhari garnered to win was very small. This happened irrespective of INEC chairman’s (Attahiru Jega) manipulation of east by providing inadequate polling booth for the south east.

        (APC) – won 15,424,921 votes that is 53.95%
        (PDP) – won 12,853,162 votes that is 44.96 %
        The difference is mere 8.99%. 8.99% is not a landslide victory.

        Do not forget that up to 30% of eastern population is not living in the east east.

        • PolyGon2013

          Those 30% that you mentioned voted for PDP. Either way, it won’t change a thing. Besides 8 to 10 % is a huge number. Regardless, ibos vote is irrelevant. Whoever is contesting for the presidency does not need to campaign in SE. Ibos hate Nigeria. Therefore, why waste time there.

          • VERITAS_ the rock of ages_

            You are so wrong. I am Igbo and a genius and i love Nigeria (however a failure it has become) more than you, I love Nigerian children tribe irrelevant, thus i never hate any specific tribe. You dont like Nigeria because you hate igbo people and would kill, rape their women and children and commit genocide against them if the opportunity was presented to you. You are an Evil being. Like the killers in Rwanda genocide. I just hate the current existence of all Nigerian Tribes. I want a Nigeria where Pigeon English is our First then English second languages. No more Huasa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani etc Tribes, and no more allegiance to Saudi Arabia. only then can Nigeria be great. Do you even live in Nigeria? or you abroad making comments full of hate and promoting genocide because you are in the safety of the corrupt western world?

          • PolyGon2013

            You are so wrong too. I do not want a Nigeria where Pigeon English is our First. I want a Nigeria where each zone or region use their preferred language. For example, Yoruba language for SW, Ibo (or whatever you speak there) for SE, etc. Believe me, I love Nigeria, but it is you Ibo that are evil and would do anything to ruin it. The moment you do not hold sway at the center to become an opposition, you will complain, complain, complain and complain. Why don’t you try opposition for a while to teach your folks about politics instead of running to the center to pick crumbs? Once you ibos start respecting other tribes and thank us for giving you chance in our environment without molestation, maybe we will rethink. At this time, it would be better that you vanish from Nigeria. Form your own little place in SE as Biafra. If SS (minus Edo for sure, and possibly River and Cross River) want to be part of you, that is fine. Just leave. As for SW, we dey kampe.

          • VERITAS_ the rock of ages_

            screw you and your tribe. this internet you are using today to show your primitive nature, was invented by who’s culture? the forever blessed white man. what has your Nigerian cultures contributed to human development as a species? nothing. You carry your tribes above every other yet you all achieved nothing. the only thing you all achieved is being called a colony and slave ancestors. all Nigerian tribes are evil and xenophobic towards other Nigerian tribes i am not with any of the failed barbaric Nigerian tribes and since you all hate each other let any side that wants to leave, leave. Since you all think too small and primitive. i wish you would live to see this but in the next 50 years the amount of Nigerians speaking Nigerian Barbaric tribe languages would be only 20% and dropping.

      • Paschal Charles

        Wetin this Zoo pikin de talk?

    • Man_Enough

      I’ve never seen humans vote for animals in a zoo and I’ve been around for quite sometime. Save your votes for kanu.

      • jon

        Hope you save your own for him he is now a Jew no longer igbo man but Jewish what a laughing stock you guys have become Nwanne this guy do not represent me he is a looser why don’t he contests for a governor

      • Zionist

        You have been in the zoo for a while?

  • TAWANDA INCOMMUNICADO

    A crude lawless regime of vendetta and tribal hate, this case has no reason being in court in the first place.

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  • Fanen Harden

    This of a guy Kanu and his crew are seriously funny sha. First of all when they wanted to arrest him he use the British Card and try to scorn, now they busy dressing in Jewish attire thinking the Israelis will come to their aid. When you were spreading hate messages and instigating violence among the people in Nigeria from a far UK did you ever for a second tot your actions were Godly or Christ like? Even the then Israel in Egyptian Land were peaceful and God in His Might fought justly and Rightly for them. Since you guys feel Nigeria is no longer a place you can call you own, please go through a peaceful means and get out in peace, because this concoctional acts will only help some smart thinking Nigerians to end cap it with a Movie. Charles Novia will should be having his pen dancing on those pages…………….

  • Fanen Harden

    This Kanu of a guy and his crew are seriously funny sha. First of all when they wanted to arrest him he use the British Card and try to dodge, now they are busy dressing in Jewish attire thinking the Israelis will come to their aid. When you were spreading hate messages and instigating violence among the people in Nigeria from a far UK did you ever for a second tot your actions were Godly or Christ like? Even the then Israel in Egyptian Land were peaceful and God in His Might fought Justly and Rightly for them. Since you guys feel Nigeria is no longer a place you can call you own, please go through a peaceful means and get out in peace, because this concoctional acts will only help some smart thinking Nigerians to end cap it with a Movie. Charles Novia should be having his pen dancing on those pages…………….