| Nnamdi Kanu, The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Njenje Media News reports. The IPOB leader was re-arraigned at a Federal High c\Court in Abuja on terrorism charges, with the Nigerian government recently amending the charges against him increasing them to seven counts as against the five counts he was previously answering to, bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism. Njenje Media News reports that the court session on Thursday commenced at 10 am. When the charges were read to him, the IPOB leader pleaded not guilty. Count one of the charges read, “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.” Kanu’s legal team led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor had challenged his detention and sought that he should be moved from DSS custody to Kuje prison in Abuja, but the Presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, rejected the application. She then adjourned the matter till November 10 and the IPOB leader was whisked out of the court in a convoy of white Hilux Van. |
