Breaking news: FG drops one charge against IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu

 The Federal Government has dropped one of the charges against the detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Human Rights Lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who is leading the delegation of legal practitioners representing the IPOB leader, urged the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to strike out the remaining charges citing lack of credibility.

The session at the Court of Appeal commenced at about 10 am on Tuesday as Kanu’s legal team mounted a strong defence over allegations of terrorism and treasonable felony.
It would be recalled that the federal government had re-arraigned Kanu on an amended 15-count charge bordering on treasonable felony. However, on May 28, the trial judge, Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, struck out eight of the 15-count charge.

The Appeal marked No: CA/ABJ/CR/ 625/2022; is challenging the remaining seven-count against Kanu.

Current Charges against Nnamdi Kanu;

Count 1

The prosecution alleged that Mr Kanu, of Afara Ukwu, Umuhahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, as a member of and leader of proscribed IPOB sometimes in September 2021, committed an act of terrorism against Nigeria and its people by allegedly making a broadcast received and heard in Nigeria with intent to intimidate the population, threatened that the people would die and that the whole world would standstill. The offence is said to be punishable under section 1(2)(b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2015.

Count 2

The prosecution accused him of committing “an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism” against Nigeria and its people made a broadcast received and heard in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of the court with intent to intimidate the population, issued a death threat against anyone who flouted his sit-at-home order.

Mr Kanu allegedly ordered whoever flouted the order should “write his/her will”, and as a result banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, and fuel stations domiciled in the eastern states of Nigeria must not open for business. Citizens, and vehicular movements, in the eastern states of Nigeria, the prosecution said, were grounded as a result of the sit-at-home order.

The prosecution said the offence is punishable under section 1(2)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act (2013).

Count 3

The prosecution also alleged that “on diverse dates” between 2018 and 2021 within the jurisdiction of this court, Mr Kanu professed himself to be a member and leader of IPOB, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria.

This, the prosecution said was an offence contrary to and punishments under section 16 of the Terrorism Prevision Amendment Act 2015.

Count 4

M Kanu also, allegedly, on diverse dates between 2018 and 2021, made a broadcast received and heard in Nigeria inciting members of the public in Nigeria in furtherance of an act of terrorism against Nigeria and its people to hunt and kill Nigerian security personnel.

The offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under section 1(2)(h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013.

Count 5