Biafra: FG Slams Fresh 6-count Charge Against Kanu, 2 Others

The Federal Government has filed a fresh six-count charge of treason
and managing the affairs of 'an unlawful society,' against the
embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi
Kanu.

Kanu was charged before the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside two
others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

MASSOB, IPOB accuse Obiano

Meanwhile, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of
Biafra, MASSOB, and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which were the
arrow-heads of the agitation for the release of their detained leader
and Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamadi Kanu, have accused Governor Willie
Obiano of Anambra State of alleged collusion with security operatives
to kill, maim its members, who were last week, jubilating over the
bail granted their leader by a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Also, pro-Biafra agitators in Delta State, yesterday, declared support
for the leader of the Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph
Uwazuruike, describing him as a non violent messiah.

In the fresh charge, the trio were accused of committing treasonable
felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code
Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, when the matter came up before Justice Mohammed, yesterday,
neither the prosecuting counsel nor the accused persons were present
in court.

However, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor announced appearance for the defendants,
even as he queried the seriousness of the Federal Government to
prosecute the matter.
Ejiofor insisted that the fresh charge was nothing but a ploy by the
government to ensure the continued detention of the accused persons,
especially Kanu, who was earlier granted bail by the same high court.

Nevertheless, Justice Mohammed, explained that though the matter was
slated in the court's cause-list for mention, yesterday, he said it
was obvious that the prosecution was not notified.

The judge therefore, adjourned the case, saying a date for the
arraignment of the accused persons would be communicated to all the
parties.

Meanwhile, there was heavy police presence around the court premises yesterday.

Fresh charge

Nnamdi-Kanu in court
In the fresh charge, FG, alleged that the three accused persons were
the ones managing the affairs of "an unlawful society," the IPOB.

The charge read, "That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown persons, now
at large, in 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, and thereby committed an offence
punish- able under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004."

It will be recalled that Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the same high
court had on December 17, ordered the "unconditional" release of the
IPOB leader, Kanu, from the custody of the Department of State
Service, DSS.

Kanu who is also the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, was on
October 17, arrested in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he
arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.

Pro-Biafra agitators in Delta State in a communique, meanwhile, at the
end of the enlarged meeting of BIM, in Asaba, the state capital, who
are from lgbo speaking axis, condemned violent approach to the
agitation.

-Vanguard