A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, NNAMDI KANU to be remanded in Kuje Prison, pending the commencement of his trial.Justice JOHN TSOHO granted the order despite the objection of counsel to the Department of State Services, who argued that KANU should remain with the DSS for security reasons and the convenience of taking him to court.KANU’s lawyer MUOMA CHUKS countered the prosecution on the basis that convenience cannot override the position of the law.The defence lawyer also noted that the DSS has not been allowing his client access to his lawyers and family members.In his ruling, Justice TSOHO held that the appropriate place to remand a defendant after arraignment in court is the prisons.The presiding judge declared that the prisons have necessary logistics and security cover to produce the accused when needed in court.The ruling came after the Federal High Court granted an application by the DSS to withdraw the first set of six-count charge against KANU and two others, and went ahead to strike out the matter filed on 18th of December, 2015.However, the prosecution counsel asked the Court to proceed to entertain another set of six-count charges filed against NNAMDI KANU and his co-accused persons on the 23rd of December, 2015.
Our correspondent, JAMES IGAH, reports that the fresh six-count charge against KANU and two others is not different in content with the first set, except for few alterations.NNAMDI KANU as well as BENJAMIN MADUBUGWU and DAVID NWAWUISI are accused of treason, management of an unlawful group, smuggling radio transmitters into Nigeria and illegal possession of firearms.
