Nigeria; Abuja Federal High Court Hints Nnamdi Kanu's Days In Prison May Soon Be Over, Strikes Out Six Of The 11-Count Charges Against Him, Others.

It's like the days of Nnamdi Kanu in Kuje prison are numbered following yesterday's ruling by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The court on Wednesday struck out six out of the 11-count charge filed against the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and three others for been incompetent, thisdaylive.com reports.

The charges range from treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms. The six charges were struck out Wednesday by the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, in a ruling she delivered on objections filed by Kanu, Onwudiwe and Madubugwu.

The judge held that the proof of evidence filed by the prosecution did not disclose prima facie case to support counts 3, 6, 7,9,10 and 11 of the charge. But, counts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 of the charge were sustained because according to the judge, the prosecution was able to place some elements of offences before the court.

The judge in striking out the charges stated that the prosecution had not placed evidence before the court to show that Kanu and Onwudiwe are managing an unlawful society or that IPOB was unlawful.

She also ruled that some of the charges against the defendants that bordered on intentions to commit crimes would be better handled at the magistrate’s court and not a federal high court. Therefore those charges cannot stand. Consequently, they were struck out.

After the ruling, the four defendants took a fresh plea of not guilty when the remaining charges were read to them. The defendants through their counsel had in an application challenged the competence of the charge against them. 

The judge however adjourned the matter to 20 and 21 March following a request for adjournment by the prosecution to enable him call witness.

The judge also said she would entertain the defendants’ fresh applications for bail but added that the application would however, not stop the trial from proceeding.

Justice Nyako also promised the defendants that an earlier order which allowed at least four members of their families to attend and witness the trial would be enforced. With thisdaylive.com