The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, adjourned till Friday, October 24, for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to enter his defence in his ongoing trial.
Trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, fixed the date after Kanu’s lead counsel, Former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), informed the Court that they will be stepping down from the trial as wanted by the defendant.
Kanu is standing trial on a seven-count charge brought against him by the Federal Government.
The IPOB leader was first arrested in October 2015 and charged with treasonable felony.Happened (EP 344) reviews: PDP governors dump party in fresh wave of defections
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He was later granted bail in April 2017 but fled the country following a military operation in Abia State. He was re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021 and extradited to Nigeria to face an amended terrorism-related charge.
The Federal Government filed a 15-count charge against him when he was re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in January 2022.
However, on April 8, 2022, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court struck out eight of the 15 counts, leaving seven counts for Kanu to face.
The court struck out the eight counts on the ground that they were repetitive, vague, or did not disclose any offence under the Terrorism Prevention Act or other applicable laws.
Subsequently, in October 2022, the Court of Appeal in Abuja went further to quash all seven remaining charges and discharged Kanu, holding that his extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria was unlawful and deprived the trial court of jurisdiction.
However, in December 2023, the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal’s judgment, ruling that while the rendition was illegal, it did not nullify the charges.
The case was therefore remitted to the Federal High Court to continue trial on the 7 surviving counts.
The amended seven-count charge, filed by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, borders primarily on terrorism, incitement, and promotion of unlawful activities under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and other related laws.
The seven counts currently before the Court marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, against Kanu States, that he perpetuated Acts of Terrorism through Radio Broadcasts.
It argues that Nnamdi Kanu, between 2018 and 2021, in London, United Kingdom, made broadcasts on Radio Biafra, which were transmitted into Nigeria, inciting violence and acts of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, contrary to Section 1(2)(b) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.