A Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday struck out
all suits filed against the founder of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Nnamdi
Kanu.
Magistrate Shuaibu Usman struck out all criminal charges
levelled against Mr. Kanu after counsel to
the State Security Services, Moses
Idakwo, filed for discontinuation of the matter on the instruction of his
client.
Mr. Usman said since the SSS, through its lawyer, had filed
for a discontinuation of the case, he had no option than to discharge the
accused.
Mr. Idakwo said further investigations by the SSS had shown
that charges against Mr. Kanu could not be entertained by a Magistrate Court
due to lack of jurisdiction.
Although he has been discharged by the magistrate court, Mr.
Kanu may have a few more steps to freedom as he is also being tried at a
Federal High Court.
At the hearing of the case on Monday, Mr. Idakwo told a
Federal High Court in Abuja that Mr. Kanu, was sponsoring terrorism against
Nigeria.
Mr. Idakwo asked the court to disregard a bail application
by Mr. Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obeta, as the matter involving his client was
terrorism-related.
He said the SSS had evidence of bank accounts owned by the
accused person where monies (both in dollars and pound sterling) were allegedly
used for financing acts of terrorism against the country.
Mr. Idakwo told the court that Mr. Kanu had dual citizenship
of Britain and Nigeria and therefore could flee and escape justice if granted
bail.
Mr. Obeta also said his client had been in detention for 90
days.
After hearing the arguments of the two counsel regarding the
bail application, the judge said he would look into the matter, setting aside
Thursday, December 17, to deliver ruling on Mr. Kanu’s bail.
Mr. Kanu had been in detention at the SSS cell since his
arrest in October by the secret service operatives.
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