The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, struck out the amended six-count treasonable felony charge filed by the Federal Government against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Binta Nyako struck out the charge after the prosecution counsel, K. E. Kaswe, withdrew it in court.
Defense Accuses FG of Deliberate Delay
Kanu’s legal team, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), accused the Federal Government of frustrating the speedy trial of the case.
Ozekhome said the amended charge was served only 48 hours before the hearing, and it introduced fresh issues, including new documents and proof of evidence not attached in the original filing.
He noted that pictures of lawyers waiting to meet with Kanu at the DSS facility were secretly taken and included as attachments, along with mentions of defense lawyers Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Maxwell Opara.
“The fact that the court sustained only seven counts in the previous charge, and they have now reduced it to six counts, means the charge has already been altered,” Ozekhome argued.
Prosecution Withdraws Charges
Following the defense’s objection, Kaswe applied to withdraw the amended charges, insisting that the prosecution was ready to proceed and had its first witness present in court.
Justice Nyako subsequently struck out the amended charge, allowing the trial to move forward.
