The Federal Government on Monday filed a fresh 15-count terrorism charge against the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In the amended charge filed by the Federal Government before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, it increased the counts in the initial charge it preferred against Kanu from seven to fifteen.
Along with the fresh charges, Kanu who has been facing a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony will now take a fresh plea to a 15-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/ CR/383/2015, signed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) M. B. Abubakar.
The trial of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, continues today, January 18 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He is expected to continue moves to get bail after continued detention in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
The lead counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, today unveiled Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) as the leader of the defence counsel for Nnamdi Kanu whose trial commences today before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu arrived at the court by 7 am amidst tight security as operatives of the Department of State Services thoroughly searched journalists and lawyers.
Count one of the charges alleged that Kanu, sometimes in 2021, being member and leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra did commit an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism against the Federation Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria by making a broadcast received and heard in the country with intent to intimidate the population, and also threatened that people will die, the whole world will stand still, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(b) of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.
Count 15 of the charge reads, “That you, Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult of Afaranukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia state on diverse dates between the month of March and April 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulisiuzor in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court a radio transmitter known as Tram 50L concealed in a container of used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47(2)(a) of Criminal Code Act. Cap C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.
It would be recalled that the IPOB leader breached the bail conditions granted him by Justice Binta Nyako, before whom he was standing trial. He was however rearrested and brought back to Nigeria to continue with his trial.
