A Federal High court sitting in Abuja has struck out eight out of the 15-count charge filed against the defunct IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by the federal government.
Justice Binta Nyako, while ruling on Kanu’s application Friday, struck out counts 6,7,9,10,11,12,13 and 14.
However, wil still trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 15.
The jurist held: “In this instant preliminary objection application, I have read the counts and counts 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 have not disclosed any offence,” the judge held.
“Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 shows some allegations.
“The court shall proceed to try the defendant on those counts.”
Kanu is standing trial on an amended 15-count charge bordering on treasonable felony.
Lead Counsel to Kanu, Mike Ozekhome, described the charges as “defective and baseless”.
He said his application sought the “quashing, striking out and dismissing of the 15-count amended charge” for being “incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction to entertain the suit”.
The application, which was premised on 34 grounds and supported by a 36-paragraph affidavit, is also seeking an order acquitting and discharging Kanu.
“You are accusing Kanu of making some broadcast. You didn’t say where these broadcasts were made. Were they made in the spirit world, made in the air or under the ground?” Ozekhome asked.
Ozekhome added that according to the provisions of the Federal High court act, a prosecutor was expected to give exact details of a location where an offence is committed.
He adopted his application and asked the court to strike out the entire charge.
The Prpsecution Counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, asked the court to dismiss the defendant’s application.