FG Withdraws Newly Amended Charges Against Nnamdi Kanu

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, struck out the newly amended six counts filed against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government.

The decision followed the withdrawal of the charge by the Federal Government.

The withdrawal came after Kanu’s Lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), complained that the prosecution was trying to delay processes by continuous amendment of the charge against his client.

Ozekhome told the court that it was the seventh time the FG was amending its charge.

Justice Binta Nyako concurred with Ozekhome’s submission stating that Kanu was not expected to take a plea on those newly amended charges immediately, as he needed time to digest them before doing so.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling, held that since Kanu was earlier granted bail in 2017 and jumped the bail, the court must first determine the real reason he jumped the bail before applying for another one.
Justice Nyako then dismissed the application for bail, NAN reports.

The court had, on April 8, exonerated the Federal Government on the allegation that the leader of the IPOB was forcefully abducted abroad to stand his trial.

Nyako, in a ruling, held that rendition for the purpose of criminal investigation is allowed.

Nyako said since Kanu was on a bench warrant, the law allowed that anywhere he is sighted, he can be arrested and be brought to face his trial.

“Rendition for the purpose of criminal investigation is allowed.

“In the instant case, there is a bench warrant on the defendant (Kanu). Suffice to say, he is a fugitive before the court,” she said.

The judge, who dismissed Kanu’s move to challenge the terrorism charge, upheld seven counts in the fresh charge filed by the federal government against the IPOB leader.

Nyako said that the federal government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had been able to established some allegations against Kanu in counts one, two, three, four, five, eight and 15.

“Counts one, two, three, four, five, eight and 15 show some allegations. The court shall proceed to try the defendant (Kanu) on those counts, ” she ruled.

After the review of the 15 counts, she held that about eight of the counts appeared to be similar and did not disclose action.

She, therefore, ordered that counts six, seven, nine, 10, 11, 12 13 and 14 should be struck out.

Nyako also ruled that the order proscribing IPOB as a terror group still subsisted until it was vacated since the issue was still on appeal.

She dismissed the argument of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, counsel for Kanu, that whether IPOB was a terrorist organisation under the Nigerian law or not was still a subject of an appeal.