Court Fixes July 26 For Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial, IPOB Leader Arrested By Interpol

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, remanded the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Nyako ordered that the embattled IPOB leader be kept in custody after he was brought before her by the Federal Government after his arrested outside Nigeria by the Interpol.

The judge also on Tuesday fixed July 26 for the resumption of the trial of the defendant, who was brought back into the country on Sunday from an undisclosed location.

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The judge gave the orders less than 30 minutes after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), informed journalists that Kanu had been arrested.

Malami, who addressed the press in company of the Inspector-General of Police and spokesman of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunnaya, however, did not disclose where Kanu was arrested.

But he revealed that Kanu would be tried on charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and management of an unlawful society.

The AGF claimed that it was his inciting broadcasts that led to loss of lives and destruction of properties in the South-East region of the country.

Meanwhile, the IPOB leader was brought to court on Tuesday by heavily armed security operatives from both the DSS and the Nigerian Police Force.

Recalled that the trial court had, on March 28, 2019, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the IPOB leader after it revoked the bail that was earlier granted to him.

Placing reliance on Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, the court equally okayed Kanu’s trial in absentia.

Kanu, whose whereabouts was unknown since September 2017, was hitherto answering to a five-count charge FG entered against him and three other pro-Biafra agitators— Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

Shortly after he was declared “missing”, trial Justice Nyako, on February 20, 2018, okayed separate trial for the other three defendants.

Nnamdi Kanu, who has dual citizenship, was before his arrest on Sunday, reportedly sighted at various locations outside the Nigeria, including Jerusalem and the United Kingdom.
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19th March 2024
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