Again, journalists, others barred from Kanu court trial in Abuja

For the umpteenth time, journalists and others have been locked out of the courtroom at the resumed trial of leader of the pro-secession group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on Wednesday.

Both Prince Kanu Meme, one of the younger brothers of Nnamdi Kanu, and former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife arrived early at the court for the proceedings.

Ezeife is the appointed representative of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural group of the South East region.

However, Department of State Services (DSS) operatives turned back journalists heading into the courtroom, for no specific reasons.

The hooded operatives, who barricaded all routes leading to the court, barred al journalists, including print and broadcast, from major media organizations from entering the court premises.

Kanu is appearing before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on charges brough by the Federal Government through the Department of State service (DSS) bordering on amended charges bordering on treason, terrorism, arms possession, as well as, those on insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.

The case when it previously came up for hearing, last month, October 21, was adjourned to today (Wednesday) as the court admitted amended charges against Kanu filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu pleaded not guilty to the amended charges before the Justice Nyako court.

Federal Government had slammed an amended seven-count charge against Kanu, while the Federal High Court issued a hearing notice for Thursday, October 21.

The Notice titled, ‘Federal Republic of Nigeria Versus Nnamdi Kanu,’ with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/15, was served on Ejiofor and the prosecuting lawyer, Shuaibu Labaran.

Journalists, lawyers and staff of the Federal High Court (FHC) were barred from entering the Court premises.

Federal Government amended the charges against him raising them to seven counts as against the five counts he was previously answering to, bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.

The court session on Thursday commenced at 10 am.

The amended charge sheet brought against Kanu by the DSS, read:

Count one:

That you, Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, being the leader of the Indigenous People of Bialra (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.

Count two:

That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area ot Abia State, on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Count Three:

That you Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State between the month 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 Honourable Court , a Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L concealed in a container of used household which you declared as used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) of the Criminal Code of Act ,Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Count four:

That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult. of Afaraukwu iIbeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in London, United Kingdom between 2018 and 2021 Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and FCT, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, professed to be a member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16 Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

Count five:

That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 22th of April, 2021 in London, United Kingdom on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act of terrorism in that you incite the other members (followers) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB}, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria, to look for security personnel, their family members through a Radio Biafra on 102.1FM monitored through the IPOB Community Radio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.

Count six:

That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia Stale on the 16thh of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “In 2 weeks’ time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still, mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

Count seven:

That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 31st of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by issuing a deadly threat that anyone who flouted your sit-at-home order should “write his/her will,” as a result banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses and vehicular movements grounded and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

When the charges were read to him, the IPOB leader pleaded not guilty to all seven counts.

Subsequently, he was taken back to the DSS custody as the court adjourned till November 10, this year for further hearing on the case.

The IPOB leader was rearrested presumably in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in July to continue his trial.

Ahead of Wednesday trial, Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has revealed that Nnamdi Kanu is strong ahead of his Wednesday’s appearance in court.

In a post via his twitter account, Ejimakor said he “had a fruitful visitation today with Onyendu” and they discussed about his next court outing.

He stated that the IPOB Leader “remains the strong man he is” and he extends his greetings to his followers.

The tweet reads:

“UPDATE: I had a fruitful visitation today with #Onyendu in the company of my colleagues, Barr Ejiofor & Barr Maxwell.

“We went over his next outing in Court on 10th November. He remains the strong man he is & looks forward to being vindicated. He greets his followers & supporters.”