Court sends Kanu to prison

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of treason when he appeared before a Federal High Court, Abuja.

The court, however, ordered that Kanu be remanded in prison custody until a bail application is heard on January 25.

Kanu was arrested by the DSS on October 14, 2015, when he arrived Nigeria from London.

Kanu, last month refused to enter a plea when he was first charged with “treasonable felony”, arguing that he had no confidence in the then trial judge.

The prosecution alleged Kanu and others at large in Britain between 2014 and last year called for southeastern states to secede from Nigeria to form Republic of Biafra.

The prosecution also alleged in the charge sheet that Kanu had the intention ” to levy war against Nigeria.”

He was also charged with managing an unlawful society, unlawful possession of firearms and concealing an import of a radio transmitter.

IPOB supporters have held a series of protests across the country in recent months to demand his release and voice their calls for a breakaway state for the southeastern Igbo people.

On December 17, IPOB said five campaigners were killed during celebrations after the high court in Abuja ordered Kanu’s release on bail. The Guardian also reported that about 26 members of the group were arraigned by the police for being members of unlawful organisation, sequel to their protest in Monday Aba against the continued detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

The authorities in Abuja, however, have refused to release him, leading to fresh protests.