Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ruled that there is no evidence to prove that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is an unlawful society
Justice Binta Nyako, who struck-out six out of the eleven count criminal charges which the Federal Government preferred against the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and three others, held that the six charges were not supported by the proof of evidence the prosecution adduced against the defendants.
The court sustained five other charges against Kanu and three other pro-Biafra agitators, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi. The sustained charges, to which all the defendants entered a fresh plea of not guilty, borders on conspiracy, treasonable felony, publication of defamatory matter and Kanu’s alleged importation of goods contrary and punishable under section 47(2) (a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Justice Binta Nyako emphasized that there was no evidence before the court to prove that IPOB which was allegedly managed by the defendants, was an unlawful society.
In count three of the remaining charges, the federal government alleged that Kanu had, in a broadcast he made in London on April 28, 2015, through Radio Biafra, referred to President Muhammadu Buhari as “a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil.”
The judge adjourned the matter to March 20 and 21 to commence trial of the defendants.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that on the last adjourned date, counsel to Kanu, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, filed an application, seeking to quash the charges against the four defendants.
He also informed the court of another application challenging the competence of the charges against the defendants.
Ejiofor said that the proof of evidence did not support the charges against Kanu to warrant his continual detention.
(NAN). [myad]
