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Friday 8 April 2022

Kanu's Trial: Court trashes 8 of 15 count-charge against IPOB leader




Kanu's Trial: Court trashes 8 of 15 count-charge against IPOB leader


Hears bail application

Journalists blocked from media coverage

By Chikwas Onu Ikpe | The Biafra Times

April 8, 2022


An Abuja division of the Federal High Court Friday quashed eight (8) amid fifteen (15) count-charge leveled against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

Trial justice Binta Nyako, delivering ruling on the preliminary objections against the fifteen (15) count-charge, case No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, dismissed counts 6,7,9,10,11,12,14, stating that the struck-out charges did not call for trial due to its duplication and failure to disclose vital elements of the alleged offences.

The judge held; "In this instant preliminary objection application, I have read the counts, and counts 6,7,9,10,11, 12,13, 14 have not disclosed any offence.
Counts 1, 2,3,4,5, 8,15 shows some allegations. So, the court shall proceed to try the defendant on those counts.

Justice Nyako further stated that since there had been a bench warrant - to arresting the IPOB leader - renditioning the defendant for the purpose of criminal investigation was allowed.

In count-three alleging Kanu being the leader of a terrorist organisation; in that case, IPOB, the defendant had argued the case was pending before an appellate court. However, the judge maintained that IPOB remained proscribed until the court of appeal says otherwise.

Toward the proceeding, Kanu's team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate, Mike Ozekhome prayed the court to grant him bail on health grounds, in an application filed before the court.

"Even if it means subjecting him to certain conditions," Ozekhome begged the court to free his client. "Nnamdi Kanu’s health is deteriorating. He should be alive to stand trial. That is why the law would say, 'come and stand trial'. Come and stand trial means (you have) to be well, Hale and hearty. It didn't say come and sit down trial; or come and lie down trial, or come and prostrate trial."

Clarifying what happened regarding Kanu's disappearance, the learned Silk submitted that Kanu almost got killed during a military invasion in his hometown; that was why he fled.

Meanwhile, journalists were barred from media coverage, and recordings of IPOB leader's trial. This was following a press statement credited to the chief judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho. The latter said terrorism-related proceedings would be conducted in secret except when he [Tsoho] grants permission for media coverage.

It further reads that "only the judges; other essential court staff and security agencies involved in the particular case and their vehicles shall have access to the court premises."

Tsoho said in any proceedings the court deems necessary to ensure the safety and or to protect the identity of the victim or witness, may hold its proceedings at any place to be designated by the chief judge with the Code of Conduct Tribunal as the venue for the time being.

"The names, addresses, telephone numbers and identity of the victims of such offences or witnesses in the proceedings shall not be disclosed in any record or report of the proceedings and it shall be sufficient to designate the names of the victims or witnesses with a combination of alphabets," said the chief judge of the court.

Whereas, the presiding judge adjourned until May 18, 26 for ruling on bail application, and continuation of substantive trial.

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