Federal High Court Strikes Out Six Charges Against IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out the allegation of the management of an unlawful society and five other charges brought against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and three others, by the Federal Government.

According to the offence, which was number three in the 11-count charge, Kanu managed an unlawful society alongside his co-defendants in 2012, in London, South East and South-South Nigeria, pursuant to his secessionist agenda, with intent to bringing into being, a Republic of Biafra out of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The development raises the hope of Kanu being freed from detention at the end of his trial .
The charges were struck out yesterday following a preliminary objection filed by Kanu and two others challenging the charges slammed against them.

The Federal Government had filed an 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, against the defendants.

Justice Binta Nyako at the resumed sitting yesterday ruled that the prosecution had failed to show proof that IPOB was either unlawful, unregistered or had been proscribed.
The judge also struck out counts six, seven, nine, 10 and 11 while sustaining counts one, two, four, five and eight of the charges, which the prosecution had placed before the court.

Extract from Guardian