Lead counsel to the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Mazi Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has asked the Federal Government and others to expect “legal fireworks” on Thursday as his client is arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Reacting to the amended charges against the IPOB leader by the Federal Government, Ejiofor said his legal team is “eminently prepared.”
In an update on his Facebook page, Ejiofor also said his client is in high spirit ahead of the arraignment.
Ahead of his arraignment on October 21, the detained leader of tIPOB had asked millions of his supporters to embark on a dry fast.
According to Ejiofor, “I and my colleague, Alloy Ejimakor, had a very fruitful visitation to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We discussed a wide range of matters, especially concerning Hearing in his case and appearance in court on 21st October, 2021. There will be more on this later.
“The coast is now clear for legal fireworks this Thursday, particularly now that we have been served with a purported “Amended Charge” in the Case. We are eminently prepared for Thursday’s outing, and you won’t be disappointed.
“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is in good spirit, awaiting his auspicious outing on Thursday, the 21st Day of October, 2021. He commended those who are in the spirit with him while declaring that Chukwuokike Abiama has ordained this special Day for a victorious outing.
“He requested that the fasting, supplications, and prayers should continue, as he noted that they are strongly impacting positively.
“He further implored UmuChineke to be steadfast, and keep their eyes steadily on the ball and pray without ceasing, while believing very strongly that this present situation will pass too and it shall end in Praises.
“This THURSDAY is the D-Day, and your solidarity/support must be demonstrated within the confines of the law, as you have always shown.
“Onyendu specifically asked us to extend his undiluted love and confidence for Umuchineke.”
In the summary of the amended seven-count charges presented to the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Kanu is facing allegations of treasonable felony and terrorism, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federal Ministry of Justice, M.B. Abubakar,and dated 12th October, 2021, the prosecution averred that it will lead evidence that Kanu granted an interview with Sahara Reporters “wherein he asserted that Nigeria, which he refers to as the ‘zoo’, ‘have come to an end.’”
The prosecution further averred that Kanu insisted in the interview that violence is the language people in the ‘zoo’ understand while adding that “if they fail to give us Biafra, Somalia will be a child’s play; Somalia will look like paradise. We will kill everybody in that zoo called Nigeria.
“If they fail to give us Biafra, there will be no more living in the zoo.”
The prosecution further averred that Kanu does not believe in peaceful approach to the realisation of Biafra because he insisted that he is not aware of anywhere peaceful approach worked.
“In his broadcasts, he invited his listeners to burn down as many police stations as police and kill any policeman and military personnel,” the prosecution averred.
The prosecution averred that Kanu had in a broadcast on August 1, 2015, directed his members in Diaspora to identify families of Nigerian dignitaries abroad, their residences and schools for reprisal when security agencies attack Biafrans.
In the seven-counts charge, the prosecution alleged that Kanu had sought to carve out South East, South South, parts of Kogi and Benue states to form the Republic of Biafra against the provision of Section 41(c)of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.
The federal government further alleged that Kanu on 28th April, 2015 made a broadcast on Radio Biafra, London, monitored in Enugu referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as paedophile, terrorist and an embodiment of evil “knowing same to be false”, which contravenes Section 357 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.
Other charges read, “that you Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afarachukw lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State between the month of March and April 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiizor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court , a Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50l concealed in a container of used household Which you declared as used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) of the Criminal Code of Act ,Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
That “on the 16th of May, 2021 in London United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit and act in furtherance if an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “in two weeks time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”
