The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, was on Thursday, absent, as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, commenced hearing on an application he filed to quash the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
Kanu, in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, is asking the court to acquit and discharge him of all counts in the charge.
He argued that the court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to try him on the basis of a charge he said was grossly incompetent.
The embattled IPOB leader contended that there was no proof of evidence attached to the amended charge against him.
According to him, “That no allegation was made in any of the counts of the amended charge that the alleged sundry acts of the Defendant/Applicant were physically carried out by him, within the geographical space or territorial boundaries of Nigeria.
“That the only element requisite to constitute and found liability for incitement is the actual words allegedly uttered by the Defendant/Applicant.
“That the alleged acts for which the Defendant was charged, do not constitute terrorism offences in London, United Kingdom, where they were allegedly committed,” Kanu added.
Kanu’s case was originally scheduled to be heard next year, but the court on Wednesday granted an abridgement of time after a motion was filed by the Nigerian separatist leader. This allowed for an emergency hearing today, Thursday.
Justice Nyako had on November 10, 2021, adjourned the trial of Kanu till January 19 and 20, 2022, for trial. But the court yesterday granted an abridgement of time after a motion was filed in that respect and his matter was again heard today (Thursday).
