Alleged terrorism: Kanu knows fate October 10

• FG prays court to order detained IPOB leader to enter defence

From Godwin Tsa Abuja

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu will know his fate on the terrorism charges preferred against him by the Federal Government in October.

Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court has adjourned till October 10 for ruling on whether or not to allow the no-case submission by Kanu’s lawyers and free the defendant or reject it and order Kanu to enter his defence.

Meanwhile the Federal government has urged the court to order Kanu to enter a defence in the terrorism charge and to reject his no-case submissions in respect of the alleged offences.

Prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) told Justice James Omotosho to order Kanu to explain why he engaged in terrorism activities that led to violence and massive destruction, including the killing of no fewer than 170 security officials.

Awomolo made the submissions while adopting his address in opposition to the no-case submission made by Kanu. He said the prosecution has supplied sufficient evidence in proof of all elements of the offences charged to warrant the court to call on the defendant to enter a defence.

Earlier, Kanu had through his lead counsel, Godwin Agabi (SAN), argued that all the prosecution has succeeded in doing was to paint the picture that the defendant is a bad man.

He contended that the prosecution has not made a prima facie case against him, as the prosecution proved no single element of the offences charged.

Agabi equally added that the prosecution did not bring anyone before the court who said he was incited by Kanu’s broadcasts.

Agabi said: “This man (Kanu) can boast. He was just boasting. He said I could bring the world to a standstill. I don’t see anything wrong with that. You don’t prosecute a man for mere boasting.”

But in urging the court to dismiss Kanu’s no-case submission, Awomolo noted that the prosecution had called five witnesses and tendered many exhibits, including video and audio evidence, adding that as against the claim by the defence lawyer, the reply address of the prosecution addressed all issues raised.

The senior lawyer, who prayed the court to dismiss the no-case submission, argued that all the court was required to do at this stage of the case was to take a panoramic view of the evidence led so far and determine whether or not a prima facie case has been made out against the defendant to warrant his being called to enter a defence.

Earlier, Agabi argued that all the prosecution has succeeded in doing was to paint the picture that the defendant is a bad man.

He drew the court’s attention to the wave of killings in most parts of the country, and argued that the defendant was equally concerned with the state of insecurity in the country.

While insisting the defendant did nothing wrong, Agabi said the defence team tendered evidence in the case where the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi and a former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma, were heard advocating that people should defend themselves against attacks.

Agabi argued that “what the defendant said was that the people should defend themselves.”