Abia court awards N1bn for Nnamdi Kanu

A High Court sitting in Abia State has ordered the Federal Government to pay the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the sum of N1 billion.

The court presided over by Justice Benson Anya also directed the Federal Government to issue a letter of apology to the IPOB leader, noting that the FG violated Kanu’s fundamental rights.

Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, made the latest development known via a tweet on his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu challenges terrorism charge in court

He tweeted: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wins as Abia High Court rules that Federal government violated his fundamental rights. Orders Federal Government to pay N1 billion to him and issue a letter of apology to him.

“Most importantly, the court recommended political solution to the #Biafran agitation.”

The Star reports that Nnamdi Kanu had approached the High Court and demanded the sum of N5 billion over the invasion of his father’s house by the military on September 10, 2017.

Kanu had, on Wednesday, challenged the terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government .

Kanu, through his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told the trial Judge, Justice Binta Nyako that the amended 15-count charge preferred against his client was unmeritorious and should be thrown out by the court.

The senior lawyer urged the court not to waste its judicial time on the matter because the charges were watery.

Earlier, the counsel to the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF), Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment of Kanu and prayed the court to allow the defendant take his plea.

After the 15 counts bordering on terrorism were read to the IPOB leader and he pleaded not guilty, Labaran said the prosecution was ready for trial as two witnesses were already in court.

The prosecution had, before court sitting, produced several documentary evidence, including electronic devices it would use to play some of the alleged inciting broadcasts that were made by the defendant (Kanu).

But Ozekhome objected to the request that the trial should commence.

TheStar