The leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (lPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was on Thursday arraigned at a Federal High Court in Abuja amid heavy security presence in and around the premises.
Kanu was driven to court in a black SUV at 8.00am.
An estimated 3,000 security personnel comprising Police, Army, and Department of State Services formed a ring at the court.
However, some journalists, lawyers and staff of the court were barred from entering the premises.
Persecondnews reports that when the charges were read to him he entered a plea of “not guilty” to the seven counts slammed on him by the Federal Government.
After his plea was taken, the court
adjourned the case until November 10, 2021.
Kanu was bubbling as he took photographs with his lawyers before the court session started at 10 am.
Part of the charges read: “That Kanu “being the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in London, United Kingdom, did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, preparations made by you and others now at large, for states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue states to secede from the federal republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into the Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(c) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
”That on the 16th of May , 2021 in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit and act in furtherance if an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “in two weeks time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afarachukw lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State between the month of March and April 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiizor 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 Wich you declared as used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) of the Criminal Code of Act, Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Kanu has been in DSS custody since he was extradited from Kenya in June this year.
The federal government accused him of jumping bail in 2017 and fled to the UK but Kanu said he left Nigeria because his life was in danger.
Last week, the Federal Government slammed an amended seven-count charge against Kanu, while the FHC issued a hearing notice for Thursday, October 21.
Kanu is being tried before Justice Binta Nyako over charges of treasonable felony and terrorism.
The separatist, who was granted bail in April 2017, fled the country after the invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the military in September, a situation one of Kanu’s lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor described as the “rule of self-preservation.”
On June 29, 2021, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, announced that Mr Kanu had been rearrested and extradited to Nigeria to continue facing his trial.
He said the IPOB leader was “intercepted” days earlier but did not disclose which country and how the operation was carried out.
