Adedokun Waliyu 
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has fixed October 13 for judgment in an appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), challenging criminal charges against him.
Kanu was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court on amended 15 counts bordering on treasonable felony preferred against him by the Nigerian government.
However, on April 8, Justice Binta Nyako struck out eight of the 15 counts.
While ruling on the preliminary objection seeking to quash the charges, the judge said counts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 had not disclosed any offence against the defendant (Kanu).
The charges that were struck out below are as follows: “Count 6: Made broadcasts to attack officers of the Nigeria Police Force; Count 7: Made broadcasts in which he incited members of the public to hunt and attack officers of the Nigerian Police Force.
“Court 8: Made broadcasts in which he directed members of the IPOB to manufacture bombs; Court 9: Made broadcasts on diverse dates in furtherance of terrorism against the Nigeria state and with intent to destabilise the fundamental political and economic structures of Nigeria, incited members of the public to stop the Anambra governorship election.
“Count 10: Incited members of the public to destroy public facilities. Count 11: Threatened members of the public not to come out on 31st May, 2021. Count 12: Made broadcasts with the intention to incite members of the public to stage a violent revolution in furtherance of acts of terrorism. Count 14: Directed members of the public to destroy the public transport system in Lagos, resulting in major economic loss to the governor.”
Nyako had said that counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 15 showed some allegations, which the defendant had to answer.
However, Kanu through his team of lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, praying the court to quash the remaining seven counts for being devoid of merit.
The appeal is equally praying the court to order his release on bail, pending the determination of his appeal.
Ifeanyi Ejiofor Esq, IPOB’s lead counsel in a statement sent to SaharaReporters said judgement will be delivered on Kanu’s appeal tomorrow (Thursday), October 13, 2022 at 2pm.
The statement read, “We wish to inform UmuChineke and all followers of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, that we have just received notification from the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, that the long awaited Judgement in Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022 BETWEEN: MAZI NNAMDI KANU VS FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, will be delivered tomorrow, 13th October 2022 at 2:00PM.
“We are very excited with this news as we look forward to a victorious outing tomorrow. The legal team is leaving no stone unturned as we have been working assiduously behind the scene.
“The hour has come, and it will surely end in Victory. Please do not relent in your prayers as they are positively impacting. We will surely have every cause to rejoice for Victory is ours and it shall surely end in Praises. Thank you all, UmuChineke and remain blessed and law abiding as you have always been.”
