The Abuja Division of the Federal
High Court on Wednesday struck
out six of the 11-count charges
brought against the leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra,
Nnamdi Kanu.
Mr. Kanu and three others, David
Nwawuisi, Benjamin Madubugwu
and Chidiebere Onwudiwe, are
facing trial for alleged treason.
The matter continued on
Wednesday with the hearing and
determination of applications
seeking the withdrawal of the
charges against the defendants.
Delivering her ruling in the three
similar applications brought by
the first, second and third
defendants in the matter, the
presiding judge, Binta Nyako, said
counts 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 did not
constitute a prima facie case
against the defendants.
She said the documents before the
court was insufficient to prove the
allegation that the IPOB
constituted an unlawful society.
She also held that the prosecution
failed to prove that the items
allegedly imported by the
defendants had been banned by
the Nigerian government.
Mrs. Nyako struck out the charges
and ordered a fresh hearing on
the other five counts still
proffered against the defendants.
They pleaded not guilty to the
charges.
After the plea was taken, counsel to the fourth
defendant, E. I. Esene, requested the
prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, to
withdraw himself from the trial, on the
grounds that he (Labaran) had been part of
the prosecutors who had interrogated his
client before he was charged.
Mr. Esene regarded the involvement of Mr.
Labaran in the matter as an “injury to the
trial”.
A mild drama then occurred when the first
defendant, Mr. Kanu, attempted, yet again to
address the court on the manner of trial
which he regarded as secret.
Mrs. Nyako however sounded a warning,
preventing the degeneration of the hearing
into a rowdy session.
She warned the lawyers to advise their client
against “unruly behaviour”, stressing that
such an attitude would force her to report
them to the Chief Justice of the court, so that
their matter continues without their presence
in court.
The case was adjourned till March 20.

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Ana agwo ona ere, no going back on Biafra we stand.