By Ismail Auwal
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed eight of the federal government’s 15-count charge against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The presiding judge Binta Nyako, ruling on Kanu’s application on Friday, struck out counts 6,7,9,10,11,12,13 and 14.
He is to stand trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 15.
Kanu is standing trial on an amended 15-count charge bordering on treasonable felony.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, describe the charges as “defective and baseless”.
He claims that his application seeks the “quashing, striking out, and dismissal of the 15-count amended charge” because he is “incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction to entertain the suit.”
The application, which is supported by a 36-paragraph affidavit and is based on 34 grounds, also seeks an order acquitting and discharging Kanu.
“You are accusing Kanu of making some broadcast. You didn’t say where these broadcasts were made. Were they made in the spirit world, made in the air or under the ground?” Ozekhome asked.
He also asserted that, under the provisions of the Federal High Court Act, a prosecutor is required to provide precise details of the location where an offense is committed.
Ozekhome agreed to accept his application and asked the court to dismiss the entire charge.
However, the prosecution’s counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, asked the court to dismiss the defendant’s application.
