Nnamdi Kanu pleads not guilty to 15 count treasonable charges, court adjourns to Feb. 16

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has pleaded not guilty to the 15 charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, preferred against him by the Federal Government.

He pleaded not guilty before Justice Binta Nyako when the case resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday.

Kanu, who was brought into the courtroom around 10:15 am, thereafter, entered his plea to the fresh amended charge against him which borders on his alleged commission of acts of terrorism, felony, incitement, unlawful importation of a radio transmitter, and headship of an illegal organization.

The IPOB leader said he was innocent of all the allegations leveled against him, even as he complained from the dock that some counts in the amended charge were similar.

Meanwhile, immediately the embattled IPOB leader finished taking his plea, the prosecution counsel, Labaran Magaji, told the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial, adding that he brought two witnesses to testify against the defendant.

The federal government through its prosecution counsel may be opening its case against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu in the terrorism charges after his formal arraignment.

Aside from witnesses, exhibits have been brought to the courtroom and are likely to be tendered against Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. Among the items brought to court are electronic equipment, like sound mixers and a projector.

The DSS Wednesday produced several documentary pieces of evidence, including electronic devices it would use to play some of the alleged inciting broadcasts that were made by the defendant.

However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court that he had on Tuesday evening, filed a 43-paged preliminary objection for the charge to be quashed and struck out without the matter proceeding to trial.

Labaran, however, argued that Kanu’s two applications were not ripe for hearing, stressing that he would require time to go through them so as to be able to respond.

In a brief ruling, Justice Nyako noted that since Kanu’s first application is challenging the propriety of his trial, as well as the competence of the charge against him, the court ought to hear it first.

The court adjourns to February 16 as the defense prayed the court for more time to study the charges against Kanu and to hear the application seeking to quash the 15 count charge against the IPOB leader.