Transfer Me to Prison Custody - Radio Biafra Boss, Nnamdi Kanu Begs Court

 Source: Vanguard

On resumption in court yesterday, the prosecution counsel, told the court that Nnamdi Kanu was yet to fully meet the requirement for his bail and asked the Abuja court to discontinue its case against the IPOB leader.

Nnamdi Kanu raising his hands to applaud his supporters after he left the court in Abuja

 

We reported it here yesterday that the State Security Service asked an Abuja magistrate court to discontinue its case against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

At the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, Kanu, who the government accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society, as well as indulging in criminal intimidation, contrary  to section 97 (a)&(b) and section 397 of the Penal Code, begged to be transferred to prison custody.

His lawyer, Vincent Egechukwu Obeta, insisted that transferring his client to prison would enable him to have easy access to his legal team.

He made the application shortly after the DSS urged the Magistrate Court to hands-off Kanu’s trial. The DSS, through its lawyer, Moses Idakwo, told the court that it has already secured an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to further detain Kanu for another 90 days.

It said that the order which was granted by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, was to enable the government to conclude investigation into an allegation that Kanu was involved in terrorism financing.

Consequently, the DSS, applied to withdraw the initial First Information Report (FIR), it lodged against Kanu before the Chief Magistrate Court, maintaining that the government would file a fresh charge against Kanu before a higher court, once its ongoing investigation is concluded.

Idakwo therefore asked Magistrate Usman to step down from the trial on the ground that his court lacks the power and jurisdiction to prosecute terrorism charges.

The application was vehemently opposed by Kanu’s lawyer Obeta, who  insisted that the bail earlier granted the accused person must firstly be complied with before any application for transfer of the case to a federal high court could be entertained.

After listening to both parties, Magistrate Usman adjourned the case till December 1 for ruling.

 

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