The Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will return to court in Abuja today for a resumed hearing on the charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, had three weeks ago fixed November 10, 2021, to hear an application filed by Kanu challenging the competence of the treasonable felony charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
He also asked the judge, Binta Nyako, to dismiss the newly-amended charges of seven counts.
Kanu was charged with terrorism, treason and perpetuation of falsehoods against President Muhammadu Buhari, mainly through broadcasts on the controversial Radio Biafra outlet and also through social media.
He had pleaded not guilty during his last trial on October 21, 2021.
MEANWHILE, the IPOB has announced the sit-at-home today in solidarity with its leader, Kanu, who appears in court today.
Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful, urged people of the South-East to remain indoors and those residing in Abuja to move to the venue of Kanu’s trial.
IPOB has exempted hospitals and its members of staff, as well as journalists, from the order.
“Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu goes to court tomorrow (today) November 10, 2021, and our people should stay indoors while others move to Abuja in solidarity with our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and we are expecting the Nigerian government and the Department of State Services (DSS) to release him unconditionally because he committed no crime.
“We hope people will comply with this order and obey the resolve to support Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB must allow our people like doctors, nurses, ambulances and journalists to operate during the sit-at-home because we don’t want pregnant women and sick people to have issues or complications because of their health.
“Doctors must come to the hospitals but you must identify yourself and journalists must be allowed to operate and report what is going on in the whole of Biafraland,” Powerful stated.
Arrival
Speaking with BBC News Igbo, Barr. Nnaemeka Ejiofor had stated that the DSS had refused most of Nnamdi Kanu’s visitors access to see him as earlier ordered by the Court. He also stated that some of his visitors had had to take off their clothes and grossly humiliated before being able to see him. He further stated that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been left in Solitary Confinement which is probably intended to make him lose his senses.
Adding to it, Barr Maxwell Okpara had said that Ohaneze Ndigbo, Igbo Religious Leaders and Igbo Traditional Rulers had held a meeting and delegated Rev Dr William Okoye formerly in charge of Aso Rock chapel to visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS detention but was denied access.
He also added that if the DSS didn’t obey the earlier order of the court, then probably, they wouldn’t obey any future order while adding that the DSS would also today tell the court how Nnamdi Kanu was brought to Nigeria without a normal extradition process from Kenya.
Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former Governor and his delegates from Ohaneze has also arrived the court premises.
