Kanu, the founder of Radio Biafra, was arraigned in court today, January 20, 2016 on treason charges and other offences bordering on his agitation for the secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.
Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi are the other people being arraigned with the IPOB leader before Justice James Tsoho who recently took over the case.
Until now, he had remained in the custody of the Department of State Services since he was arrested last year for allegedly plotting against the Federal Government in October 2015.
The judge made the order following a request by Kanu’s counsel, Chief Chuks Muomah, that his client be transferred to prison.
According to Muomah, Kanu has remained incommunicado since he was arrested by the DSS.
Kanu ran an underground radio pushing for the creation of an independent state of Biafra
Wednesday’s ruling was the first time a court would order his remand.
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It would be recalled that federal government had flouted previous rulings of the court ordering the release Nnamdi Kanu on bail.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on December 30, 2015 during his first presidential media chat justified his administration’s flouting of court orders due to the allegation of treason hanging on Kanu.
The charges read against them include “That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown per sons, now at large, at London, United Kingdom, between 2014 and September, 2015 with intention to levy war against Nigeria in order to force the President to change his measures of being the President of the Federation, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation as defined in Section 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Re- public of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by doing an act to wit: Broadcast on Radio Biafra your preparations for the states in the South- East geo-political zone, South-South geo-political zone, the Igala Community of Kogi State and the Idoma/Igede Community of Benue State to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form themselves into a Republic of Biafra, and thereby committed an offence punish- able under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, Nnamdi Kanu and others, now at large, between 2012 and September, 2015 at South-East geo-political zone and the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court manage an unlawful society with more than 10 members to wit: unregistered with the Corporate Affairs Commission or any other registration authority to wit. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) thereby committed an offence which is punishable under Section 63 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
“That you, Nnamdi Kanu between the months of March and April, 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor town in Ihiala local Government Area of Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, a radio transmitter known as TRAM 5OL concealed in a container which you described as containing household items, which you so declared and that, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 47(2) (a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.”
The counts four and five accused the trio of aiding in the management of unlawful society and unlawful possession of firearms.
“That you Benjamin Madubugwu in the month of April, 2015 at Ubulusiuzor town, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State of Nigeria within the juris- diction of this honourable court assisted in the man- agement of an unlawful society known as the In- digenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by doing an act to wit, accepted and kept in your residence a container housing a radio transmit- ter known as TRAM 50L, with knowledge that the said transmitter belongs to an unlawful society (known as IPOB) and that you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 63 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,” the sixth count read.
