BY ANTHONY OCHELA
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu yesterday pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges brought against him by the federal government.
At his fresh arraignment conducted at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice James Omotosho, Kanu, denied the seven-count accusations of threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence and operating an illegal radio station to broadcast messages agitating for Biafran nation.
Following his plea, Counsel to the federal government, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced his readiness to conduct prosecution in line with the spirit and letters of the Supreme Court that ordered a fresh trial.
Awomolo asked for an adjournment to enable him assemble his witnesses and also applied for accelerated hearing which was granted by the court.
His request, not being objected to by the defence counsel led by Kanu Agabi, SAN, Justice Omotosho fixed April 29 and May 2 and 6 for commencement of trial.
Kanu, who was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya and had since been in the custody of the DSS on the order the of court, also conceded to a speedy trial.
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, had, in a letter dated March 4, and addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, communicated the re-assignment of the case from Justice Binta Nyako to Justice Omotosho.
The re-assignment followed the demand by Kanu and his team of lawyers for the transfer of the seven-count terrorism charge to another judge after alleging bias.
Justice Nyako, on September 24, 2024, withdrew from the case and sent the case file to the chief judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment.
The judge said she could not proceed with a trial where a defendant lacked confidence in the court.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, who has been elevated to the Appeal Court and Justice Tsoho (before becoming the Chief Judge) had presided over Kanu’s trial before it was assigned to Justice Nyako, following the defendant’s rejection of the two judges.
