Nnamdi Kanu, leader of
the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says he is a freedom fighter and not a
coupist.
Speaking before Binta Nyako, justice of the federal high court,
Abuja, on Thursday, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel to Kanu, said his client committed
no crime by advocating self-determination for the Igbo.
He said the Biafra agitation predated the administration of
President Muhammadu Buhari, and that it was laughable that Kanu was accused of
treason when all he did was ask for an independent state for the Igbo.
He, therefore, urged the court to quash the charges against his
client.
“The Biafra agitation predates this present administration. The
fact that the Honourable Justice Ademola decided that there was no
incriminating evidence against the first defendants, he ordered his release but
this was blatantly refused,” Ejiofor said.
“He’s a freedom fighter unlike people who overthrew a legitimate
government in 1983. The court has no option but to discharge the charges. The
court should trash the charges.”
But Shuaibu Labaran, counsel to the federal government and the
prosecution, urged the court to dismiss the application of the defence.
He said Kanu’s application to quash the charges against him
lacked substance.
“We submit that the application has no substance, and should be
discountenanced,” he said. “We urge your lordship to refuse the application.”
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