IPOB: Kanu, others want case drop as FG amends charges

The leader of Indigenous peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu and four others facing five count charges before the Federal High Court Abuja for treasonable felony have asked the federal government to withdraw the charges against them following an amended charge it filed in June.

Nnamdi Kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe , Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi, and one Bright Chimezie who was joined as co- defendant last month in the amended charge are insisting they have not committed any offence

They stated this through their lead lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ejiofor said that the 2nd to 4th defendants (Chidiebere Onwudiwe , Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi ) cannot continued to be detained on the strength of frivolous and concocted charges, in breach of their statutory guaranteed rights under chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Bright Chimezie the 5th defendant, he stated, was ordered to be released by the Federal High Court, Uyo Division but instead of complying with the court order , the federal government amended the charge against Kanu and others and included Chimezie as a co-defendant in the alleged felony charge.

He said that the purpose of the amended charge dated June 22, 2017 is to prolong or truncate Kanu’s trial which has been fixed for October 17, 2017 as all the defendants have to take a fresh plea.

The lawyer also said that the federal government should withdraw the charges against the defendants because the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has prejudice the matter with extra-judicial declarations and pronouncements that are executive directives which no court can ignore .

“It is our respectful view that the declaration by the Acting President that Biafran agitation is unconstitutional, is with due respect patently misconceived and inherently faulty,” he said.

The lawyer also claimed that it is disturbing that the federal government had framed case of treasonable felony against IPOB agitators and at same time embraced Arewa Youth whose “unwholesome and wicked declaration” is a clear case of treasonable felony.

In the amended charger Nnamdi Kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe , Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi, Bright Chimezie and others at large where said to have at diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in Nigeria and London, United Kingdom did conspired amongst yourselves to broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this court, preparations being made by you and others at large for states in the South East and South South zones to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into a Republic of Biafra and you hereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act. CAP C 38 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2000.

Count four: That you Nnamdi Kanu and Bright Chimezie between the months of March and April 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this court a Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L concealed in a container of used household items ,and you hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47(2)(a)of the Criminal Code ACT,Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.