Kanu Denies Fresh 15-Count Terrorism Charge

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to all 15 count terrorism charges preferred against him by the federal government.

Kanu had on Tuesday filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the new charge as well as the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

According to the defendant, the fresh charge preferred against him were baseless, worthless, defective and could not stand the test of the law hence, should be dismissed.

Kanu made the submission through his lead lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, shortly after his re-arraignment and his not guilty plea.

The prosecution lawyer, Mr Shuaib Labaran, then moved to commence trial, stating that the prosecution had two witnesses and preponderance of evidence already in court to prove their case against Kanu.

Labaran cited section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015,which stipulated that trial should begin after arraignment, and that the court could take on any issue at any time along with the substantive matters.

Ozekhome, however, argued that trial could not commence until the defendant’s application seeking to quash the charge was heard and determined.

“We are further asking that the Defendant should be discharged and acquitted as there is nothing in this charge. It has no basis at all. We also have a motion requesting the court to grant bail to the Defendant,” Ozekhome said.

But Labaran too objected to Ozekhome’s request for deferment of trial for hearing of preliminary objection motion, stating that Kanu’s applications were not ripe for hearing.

He further claimed that he would require time to go through the applications in order for him to respond accordingly.