Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday lost his bid to be moved to the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Kanu’s request to be moved from the Kuje Correctional Centre from the Department of State Service, DSS, facility was rejected by Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court.
His counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, prayed the court to transfer the pro-Biafra agitator from the DSS custody to Kuje prison.
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But the trial judge, Justice Nyako, rejected Ejiofor’s application.
This is the second time Kanu’s request has been turned down by the court.
In July, the IPOB leader had asked to be moved to the prison, alleging that he had been “subjected to mental and psychological torture” by the Department of State Services (DSS), a request which was turned down.
Justice Nyako consequently adjourned the matter till November 10 to hear the competency of the charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
However, Nyako ordered that three people of Kanu’s choice should be allowed to visit him every Thursday.
Count one of the charge reads that Kanu “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”.
Count six of the amended charge reads: ‘That on the 16th of May , 2021 in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit and act in furtherance if an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “in two weeks time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.’
Kanu has been in custody of the DSS since he was kidnapped in Kenya late June.
The Nigerian government claimed he jumped bail in 2017 and fled to the UK.
Kanu had said he left Nigeria because his life was in danger.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
