The Nigerian government has accused the leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, of plotting to create a breakaway
Biafra Republic with Nigeria’s present south-south, south-east and
north
central states, as component units.
The government on Friday slammed fresh charges against Mr.
Kanu, shortly after a court ordered his release from custody where he has been
held since October.
The six-count charges were filed by the office of the
Attorney General of the Federation.
The charges were due for mention in court on Tuesday, but
were deferred following the absence of the counsel to the federal government.
Count One of the charge centred on allegations of
treasonable felony and reads in parts: “That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown
persons, now at large, at London, United Kingdom, between 2014 and September,
2015 with intention to levy war against Nigeria in order to force the President
to change his measures of being the President of the Federation, Head of State
and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation as defined in
Section 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as
amended) by doing an act to wit: Broadcast on Radio Biafra your preparations
for the states in the South- East geo-political zone, South-South geo-political
zone, the Igala Community of Kogi State and the Idoma/Igede Community of Benue
State to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form themselves into a
Republic of Biafra”.
The offence as stipulated by the charge is punishable under
Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CCA, 2004.
Count Two of the charge contains allegations of maintaining
an unlawful society, punishable under Section 63 of the same Act.
In Count Three, Mr. Kanu is accused of concealing goods of
different descriptions; an offence punishable under section 47 (c) of the
customs and excise management act, cap 45 laws of the Federation.
“That you, Nnamdi Kanu between the months of March and
April, 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor town in Ihiala local
Government Area of Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this honourable
court, a radio transmitter known as TRAM 5OL concealed in a container which you
described as containing household items, which you so declared and that, you
thereby committed an offence punishable under section 47(2) (a) of the Customs
and Excise Management Act.”
Mr. Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obate, had told PREMIUM TIMES
that his client who was granted bail on Thursday December 17 was still in the
custody of the Office of the State Security Service, SSS, and facing fresh
charges of treasonable felony among others.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the same court had, in a December
17 ruling, faulted the action of the State Security Service in detaining Mr.
Kanu for over two months, without trial.
Mr. Ademola noted a specific reason for the unconditional
release granted Mr. Kanu to be his prolonged detention by the SSS, without any
attempt to have him (Mr. Kanu) tried.
Mr. Kanu’s release by the federal court came a day after a
Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja struck out all suits filed against him.
Magistrate Shuaibu Usman struck out all criminal charges leveled
against Mr. Kanu after counsel to the State Security Services, Moses Idakwo,
filed for discontinuation of the matter on the instruction of his client.
Mr. Usman said since the SSS, through its lawyer, had filed
for a discontinuation of the case, he had no option than to discharge the
accused.
But rather than release the Radio Biafra director following
the separate rulings by the two courts, the SSS slammed fresh charges against
him.
Mr. Kanu, who was arrested by the SSSS as he returned to
Nigeria, has been in detention since October.
Calls for his release led to demonstrations in several south
east states.
Mr. Kanu was represented in court by a new counsel, Mr.
Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
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