A Nigerian Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out eight of the 15 counts against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The Nigerian government filed the 15 charges bordering on terrorism.
When the case came up before Justice Binta Nyako on Friday, she struck out eight of the charges while delivering a ruling on the validity of the charges.
She held that the instant preliminary objection application, counts six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, and 14 did not discloss any offence by the defendant.
The judge however acknowledged that counts one, two, three, four, five, 13, and 15 showed some allegations against the IPOB leader, saying the trial of the defendant would proceed on those counts.
According to her, rendition for the purpose of criminal investigation is allowed and in the instant case, there is a bench warrant on the defendant, suffice to say he is a fugitive before the court.
On the issue of the proscription of IPOB, the judge held that the case was pending before the appeal court and as such, the order proscribing the organisation was subsisting until it was vacated by the appellate court.
Details later…
