The appearance of a Human Rights Lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), last Tuesday, as the lead counsel to the delegation of lawyers representing the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, may have introduced some degree of apprehension into the orchestrated case as the federal government, on Monday filed fresh terrorism charges against the detained IPOB leader before the Justice Binta Nyako, Federal High Court, sitting at Abuja.
As such, the initial seven count charge bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, against the IPOB leader was increased to 15 counts in an amended charge signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mohammed Abubakar.
The trial which held amidst heavy security presence got stalled after Nnamdi Kaluobjected to the fresh charges brought against him by the Federal Government with the court reconvening on Wednesday for Kanu to take his plea.
Kanu, was welcomed into the courtroom by four members of his family, and was later seen exchanging pleasantries with his lawyers.
Addressing journalists after the proceedings Ozekhome said: “I have consulted with my client with regards to the 15-count charge. Some of the statements made by him that were not clear, which I pointed out to the court, the prosecution has been able to give me a copy that is more legible. With that, we will take the next step. No one is running from a plea being taken. But the point we made today, which the court appreciated, is that you can’t take plea to counts that have not been given to you”.
“We were served some minutes to 10:00 am yesterday (Monday) – a 15-count amended charge for a case coming up today, whereas, the last date of adjournment was 2nd of December so, they had well-over one month to do that but they didn’t.
“I believe that was intended to frustrate today’s proceedings. In any event, that was the 6th time they are amending the charge. Each time they amend, I file a preliminary objection; they go back to the drawing board to re-amend”.
Meanwhile, pro and anti-Nnamdi Kanu protesters have hit the streets of Abuja with the anti- Kanu protesters accusing the IPOP leader of treason and calling for a speedy trial while the pro-Kanu group insists should discharged and acquitted because it is within the rights of IPOP to demand independence from the Nigerian state.
It could be recalled that Nnamdi Kanu, has been in the custody of the Department of State Security Service since his alleged arrest and deportation from Kenya on July 2021.
Meanwhile, a few days before last Tuesday’s trial, unknown elements, had taken advantage of the social media to circulate information not approved by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), issuing with threat, a serial 4-day Sit-at home, from Monday to Thursday.
However, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, who raised an alarm, said it was the handiwork of mischief makers and hoodlums; he limited the sit-at-home order to Tuesday, when Kanu will appear before Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court. And, the Sit-at home recorded about 80% compliance as virtually all businesses in the South East noticed off operations including banks, major markets, Transport companies and business and government offices.
Emma Powerful explained that the decision was to allow people of the Southeast go about their lawful business as the court rules on Kanu’s fundamental right suit.
In a statement he issued on Saturday, Powerful said: “We are the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB under the command of our indefatigable Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Following our Leader’s upcoming court proceedings on the 18th, 19th and 20th of January 2022 next week, we wish to remind Biafrans that there will be only sit at home on 18th of January, and not 19th and 20th of January. In keeping with our avowed solidarity with our Leader, the entire Biafra land will be on lock down only on January 18 for obvious reasons.
“Biafrans should understand that 19th January is the judgment day in the suit by our Leader against the Federal Government which is pending before an Umuahia High Court. So, there will be no sit-at-home on that day.
“Again, we don’t want to compound the pains of our people; hence, we will limit the sit-at-home to only January 18. Biafrans and residents of Biafra are free to go about their businesses without molestations on 19th and 20th January. Anybody found enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home on 17th, 19th and 20th is criminal and must be treated as such, IPOB leadership have given order and that order is what we signed.
“Everybody must be careful because this wave that is coming will consume many and every principal of IPOB mostly the coordinators must know that it will bounce on their heads if they don’t checkmate the activities of members and call them to order. IPOB is not village or social club where everybody will behave untoward to people like cultists.
“It is on the table and to the knowledge of IPOB leadership how some principal officers were encouraging evils in IPOB without minding the repercussions and consequences but we want to make categorically known to them that it will come back to him or her that encouraged evil against his or her fellow human beings
“For clarity sake, we reiterate that there will be no sit-at-home on January 19th and 20th. Nobody is expected to interfere with either human or vehicular movements in those days under any guise. Any detractor or agent of darkness caught obstructing peoples activities in Biafra land on January 19th and 20th in the name of enforcing sit-at-home will regret his or her actions.”
Emma Powerful disclosed that anybody seen enforcing sit-at-home on those days mentioned were not members of IPOB.
