There are indications that the Federal Government is going to re-arraign the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on a fresh re-amended charges
The Attorney-General of the Federation on Friday, filed a seven-count terrorism charge against Kanu at the Federal High Court in Abuja
The new amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 contained all allegations against the IPOB leader that were earlier sustained by the trial court.
According to the Federal government, Kanu is a member of an unlawful group, which made a broadcast that was received and heard across Nigeria, issuing a deadly threat that anyone who flouted his ‘sit-at home order’ in the South Eastern part of the country, should write his or her Will.
According to the AGF, as a result of the threat; Banks, Schools, Markets, Shopping Malls, Fuel Stations domiciled in the Eastern States of Nigeria, were shut down and continued to close their businesses, with citizens and vehicular movements grounded.
The AGF, further claimed that the IPOB leader had on diverse dates between 2018 and 2021, made broadcasts that were received and heard in Nigeria, inciting members of the public to hunt and kill Nigerian security personnel and their family members, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
The AGF, also alleged that Kanu issued directives to the members of IPOB “to manufacture Bombs.”
He stressed that the defendant had between the month of March and April 2015, “Imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulisiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area 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 which Kanu declared as used household items, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 47 (2) (a) of Criminal Code Act Cap, C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.
Recall that Kanu had previously pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.
Meanwhile, Justice Binta Nyako, the presiding judge has slated next Monday, for both Kanu’s team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and the prosecution counsel to address the court on the way forward in the matter.
On Monday, the parties are to argue on whether FG could proceed to re-arraign the IPOB leader on the amended charge, despite the October 13 judgment of the Court of Appeal that discharged him of all the allegations, as well as appeals on the subject matter that are still pending before the Supreme Court.