ABUJA – Following the fresh six-count charges filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria against the Director of Radio Biafra and leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, a federal High Court judge, presiding over the case has exempted himself from hearing the case.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed who announced the decision on Wednesday, after Mr. Kanu objected to the case, said that it was needless, as the federal government had repeatedly disobeyed previous court rulings.
Kanu was charged before the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi in a fresh six-count charge of treason and managing the affairs of ‘an unlawful society.’ The government is accusing Mr. Kanu of plotting to split Nigeria, by creating a Biafra Republic with south east, south south states, and parts of Kogi and Benue states, as component units.
Kanu, who was arraigned before Justice Mohammed, told the court “I will rather remain in detention than subject myself to a trial that I know amounts to perversion of justice,” he said.
He refused to take plea on a six count charge of treason, importation of illegal good and possession of fire arms filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS), saying he had it on good authority that Ahmed Mohammed, the trial judge, was biased.
Consequently, Mohammed said he was withdrawing from the case because the confidence of the court had been put to test.
“Justice is rooted on confidence… I hereby remit the case file to the honourable chief judge of this court to reassign it,” Mohammed said.
Culled from Vanguard.
