FG’s lawyer claims Nnamdi Kanu denied being an IPOB member

Shuaibu Labaran, counsel to the federal government, says Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), denied being a member of the proscribed group.

Kanu was on Wednesday, re-arraigned on a 15-count charge of treasonable felony.

When the charges were read to him, the IPOB leader pleaded not guilty.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the court session, Labaran said, Kanu “vehemently” denied being an IPOB member.

He said: “One of the charges suggesting that the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu is a member of IPOB and he vehemently denied being a member of IPOB.”

“That is very curious and we urge Nigerians to see us through how we are going to prove all those charges against the defendant in no time to come,” the prosecution counsel said.

Binta Nyako, the judge, fixed February 16 to hear an application by the defendant challenging the propriety of his trial as well as competence of the charge against him.

But a high court in Umuahia, Abia state, ordered the federal government to pay N1 billion to Kanu for violating his rights.