THUR 21 OCT, 2021-theGBJournal- Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Thursday pleaded not guilty to the seven amended charges preferred against him by the Federal Government, all bordering on terrorism and felony.
Kanu, who was re-arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja by 10 am, said he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him.
Count one of the charge borders on his alleged broadcast in London in 2014 and 2015, to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into a Republic of Biafra.
Count six of the amended charge borders on act of terrorism in which he made a broadcast on the 16th of May, 2021 that, ‘’in two weeks time what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still mark my word’’
In the course of the hearing, the court refused his application for transfer to Kuje Correctional Centre from the DSS facility where he has been held.
The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, allowed three persons of his choice to visit him at the DSS facility.
The judge then adjourned the case to November 10 to hear his application, challenging the competence of the charges.
The Department of State Service (DSS) first came to the court Monday 26 JULY, 2021 without Nnamdi Kanu for his sedition trail, prompting Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to adjoin the case until today, October 21, bringing the first day of the celebrated trail to an abrupt end.
Abubakar, Counsel to the Federal Government, had shocked personalities in Court for the trial-including former Governor of old Anambra, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife-and the Judge when he pushed for the case to proceed, despite the absence of the key actor, Kanu.
Kanu was initially facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, according to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who addressed the press recently on the arrest and repatriation to Nigeria of Kanu. The charges were later amended and reduced to seven.
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