Breaking: IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, pleads not guilty, case adjourned to Nov 10

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has pleaded not guilty to the seven counts of the amended treasonable felony charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Kanu, standing trial before Justice Binta Nyako, said he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him, after the charge was read to him in the open court.

His re-arraingment came on day the Department of State Services refused to allow journalists and Igbo leaders including an ex-Anambra State Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife inside the courtroom.

Although seven journalists were initially cleared at the main gate of the court to enter the premises, upon his arrival at the door leading to the courtroom, arm-wielding operatives of the secret service denied them entry.

The operatives insisted their action was based on “order from above”. They made it clear that no journalist would be allowed to enter the courtroom till the end of the proceedings.

“You people can go to your press centre and wait till the end of the matter. After then, you will receive briefing on what happened,” one of the hooded operatives stated.

Vanguard quoted a source inside the courtroom that the embattled IPOB leader took his fresh plea to the amended charge at about 10:45am.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.

Count one of the charge read, “Being the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in London, United Kingdom, did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, preparations made by you and others now at large, for states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue states to secede from the federal republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into the Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(c) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Kanu’s legal team led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor had challenged his detention and sought that he should be moved from DSS custody to Kuje prison in Abuja.

But Binta Nyako, the presiding judge, rejected the application. She then adjourned the matter till November 10 and the IPOB leader was whisked out of the court in a convoy of white Hilux van.