Court expedites hearing on Kanu’s appeal against new charges, now Sept 13
Appeal Court in Abuja has brought forward the date originally fixed to hear the application filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the pro-succession group in the South East region, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The court which fixed October 11, this year to hear the appeal, has fast forwarded it to Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
In the appeal, Kanu, through his lawyers, is challenging the remaining seven charges filed against him by the Nigerian government, through the Attorney General of the Federal (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami.
Kanu is presently in the court-ordered custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Abuja.
A statement confirming the development was released by Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
“Our Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CR/ 625/2022; between Nnamdi Kanu vs the Federal Republic of Nigeria, earlier scheduled for Hearing on the 11th Day of October, 2022, has been brought forward to the 13th day of September, 2022.
“Your relentless prayers and supplications are positively impacting.
“It, therefore, means that hearing on Onyendu’s Appeal challenging the remaining Seven count Charge filed against him, will now be coming up for Hearing at the Court of Appeal Abuja, next Tuesday, being the 13th Day of September, 2022.”
It would be recalled that on Friday, April 8 this year, Justice Binta Nyako had struck out eight out of the amended 15-count charge of terrorism, treason, arms possession and others, preferred against leader of the pro-secession group in the South East region, the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) at the resumed hearing in the trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Friday.
Only 7 charges are now left in the 15-count charge preferred against Kanu.
Before the amended 15-count charge, the activist was arraigned on five counts after which the Department of State Service (DSS), on behalf of the Nigerian government, under whose custody Kanu was placed by the Federal High Court in Abuja, raised the charges to seven.
It would also be recalled that ahead of a scheduled January 18, 2022 hearing in the original 7-count charge preferred against leader of IPOB, Kanu, the Federal Government filed amended charges before the Abuja Federal High Court of Justice Binta Nyako.
Federal Government raised the 7-count charge against the IPOB leader to 15, all bordering on terrorism, treason and arms possession.
The amended 15-count charge was filed at the Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Abuja at that January hearing.
The amended charge sheet was signed by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, M.B Abubakar, on behalf of the Attorney-General (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami.
Justice Binta Nyako had at the last court sitting fixed Tuesday, January 18, to hear pending applications, including bail and acquittal filed by Kanu’s legal team.
It would be recalled that Federal Government had filed an amended seven-count charge against Nnamdi Kanu, from the original five, 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 Kanu’s lead counsel in his legal team, Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor and the prosecuting lawyer, Shuaibu Labaran.
Federal Government had amended the original five charges against him raising them to seven counts which bordered on treasonable felony and terrorism.
Federal Government amended the charges against him raising them to seven as against the initial five counts he was previously answering to, bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
