The Nigerian government has amended its charges against Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The filing of the amended 7-count comes ahead of the resumption of Kanu’s trial in Abuja on Thursday, October 21.
Filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the amended charges accuse Kanu of treasonable felony and acts of terrorism.
IPOB has threatened to impose a month-long sit-at-home order on the Southeast if Kanu is not produced in Court on Thursday.
Also, the Pan-Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze has demanded that Kanu be produced in Court when his trial resumes in two days’ time.
The amended charges brought against Kanu include a fresh allegation that he had issued a deadly threat that anyone that flouted his sit-at-home order should write his or her will.
According to the government, as a result of Kanu’s directive, banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses, with vehicular movements grounded in the South East region of the country.
The government averred that this was an offence in contravention of and punishable under 1(2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
The government also that Kanu, “on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom done in a broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
Kanu was also alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
Also, between 2018 and 2021, he was accused, through Radio Biafra, professed to be a member of IPOB, a proscribed organization in Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16 of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
The FG accused Kanu of having, on April 22, 2021, in London, United Kingdom, on Radio Biafra, monitored in Enugu and other parts of Nigeria, undertaken an act of terrorism “in that you incited the other members (followers) of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a proscribed organization in Nigeria, to look for security personnel, their family members through a Radio Biafra on 102.1FM monitored through the IPOB Community Radio, and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”
While asking the government to be fair in its treatment , Ohaneze has been left wondering why the government is not disposed to dialogue over Kanu’s case where as they are holding dialogue with bandits, Miyettti Allah and Boko Haram members, Ohanaeze called for dialogue to resolve the Kanu matter.
“Ohanaeze structures, including the Council of Elders, Council of Traditional Rulers, the Igbo Governors, Igbo NASS members, government officials, Archbishops and the Clergy, stakeholders, youth and women wings, town unions etc. are ready for a meaningful dialogue with the federal government of Nigeria on a plethora of challenges facing the Igbo nation and Nigeria.
“Our core objective is a sense of belonging in a country anchored on equity, justice and fairness
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide enunciates that the guard rail of democracy is anchored on toleration, forbearance and dialogue”, the Igbo apex body said.
“History shows that it is extremely difficult to have peace amidst injustice.
“Emphatically, we needed not look elsewhere to know that IPOB is simply an exponent of Igbo collective sentiments and predicaments in our tortuous journey and an unquantifiable sacrifice for one Nigeria.
“Ndigbo stands on a firm wicket to proclaim that the agitation and youth restiveness in the South East of Nigeria is simply a reaction or an effect or the consequences of an orchestrated alienation by the federal government over the years.
“The theory of causality quickly reminds us that a phenomenon or a chain of phenomena contributes to the production of other forms of phenomena; where the cause is partly responsible for the effect.
“On the other hand, not until some of the issues of obvious injustice against the Igbo are seen to be addressed, the chains of catastrophe that threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria may well-nigh be inevitable.
“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador George Obiozor had in his inaugural speech on January 20, 2021 called on the Presidency to consider Dialogue as a panacea to peace; insisting that the jackboot approach to the IPOB uprising will rather aggravate the precarious situation.
“Professor Obiozor, a seasoned diplomat and scholar urged the federal government to reconsider the use of force in solving the present national crises.
“Obiozor relied on his knowledge of history and international relations to explain that military and violent means to solve the national question is bound to fail as it leads to further national fractionalization; anarchy and eventual or inevitable disintegration, as in all empires or multinational states or countries.
“Ohanaeze considers the use of dialogue and political solution as the only workable option open to the presidency and indeed all men and women of goodwill that desire peace and sustainable growth for Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze recalls with consternation that on May 2, 2019, a federal government delegation led by the Minister of Interior, Abdul-Rahman Dambazau, held a meeting with national leaders of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, as part of steps to address the country’s security challenges.
“The meeting was hosted by the Governor of Kebbi State, Alh. Atiku Bagudu.
“In attendance was the then Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Adamu. Bagudu remarked: “This shows the seriousness of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in tackling the security challenges in the country.
“The President of MACBAN, Alhaji Muhammad Kiruwa, also lauded the federal government for mulling such an important interaction.”
According to Kiruwa, “this is the first of its kind in the history of this country, for the president to direct his security aides to interact with an aggrieved party to air its views.
“The internet shows the global rating of Miyetti Allah as a terrorist group, yet the federal government has met with the body in search of peace.
“During the time of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the Niger Delta was at the peak of youth restiveness and Yar’Adua opened a channel for dialogue and the matter was over.
“President Goodluck Jonathan, during his incumbency, had set up a committee commonly referred to as the Presidential Committee on Dialogue with Boko Haram, an initiative which has been sustained by President Buhari administration.
“As at today, Governors in the North have openly demonstrated their desire for dialogue with dreaded groups terrorizing their regions; the videos clips abound.
“Based on the foregoing, the Ohanaeze structures, including the Council of Elders, Council of Traditional Rulers, the Igbo Governors, Igbo NASS members, government officials Archbishops and the Clergy, stakeholders, youth and women wings, town union, etc, are ready for a meaningful dialogue with the federal government of Nigeria on a plethora of challenges facing the Igbo nation and Nigeria.
“Our core objective is a sense of belonging in a country anchored on equity, justice and fairness
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide enunciates that the guard rail of democracy is anchored on toleration, forbearance and dialogue.
“Good governance is merely an outcome based on the application of the democratic norms and values.
“And not until the right thing is done and seen to have been done, Nigeria will most likely continue in its downward spiral.
“Finally, we urge the leader of Ohanaeze delegation to the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and our legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr. Joseph Ojodu and Barr. Goddy Uwazurike to put in their very best to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu obtains justice”, Ohanaeze stated
