Pro-Biafra Protesters Storm Court Premises As SSS Arraigns Nnamdi Kanu

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday arraigned the leader of the ‘Indigenous People of Biafra’, Nnamdi Kanu, before a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
Kanu, founder of Radio Biafra was brought to the court to the warmth embrace of supporters of agitation for creation of Biafran state who had mobilised to the court premises.
Kanu is standing trial on charges of criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society, and criminal intimidation, in violation of Sections 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.
The DSS asked the court to discontinue the case so it could be moved to the Federal High Court, following to address fresh facts just reaised against the accused which it said are beyond the jurisdiction of the magistrate court.
Prosecution counsel Moses Ndamo said the application for discontinuation at the lower court was based on Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), adding that it was important to correct an impression Mr. Kanu’s lawyers were peddling publicly with regard to his application.

Defence counsel Vincent Egechukwu stated that the bail conditions for his client were too stringent but they had been able to get a Director in the Ministry of Environment with landed property within Garki or Wuse axis worth N20million, and submitted the relevant documents to DSS.

In response, the prosecution said that the document had been submitted to the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) for verification, but that a reply was yet to be received.

The magistrate, Shuabu Usman, expressed dissatisfaction with the prosecution counsel for creating unnecessary delay in the matter.
He adjourned the case to next week Tuesday, December 1, for ruling on the application for discontinuation of the case at the court.

Egechukwu said the defence would challenge the counter-affidavit brought by the prosecutor obtained from a Federal High court to detain the accused for more than 90 days.
Hundreds of ‘Biafra’ supporters, chanting anti-government slogans stormed the court as early as 7.00am in solidarity for Kanu.
However, security operatives who were combat ready had prevented the agitators from gaining entry into the court.