Court strikes out criminal conspiracy charge against Kanu

• DSS moves to charge him for terrorism
An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court yesterday struck out charges of criminal conspiracy and ownership of an unlawful society preferred against Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government.

Chief Magistrate Shuaibu Usman reached that decision while ruling on the application of the Federal Government brought by its agent, Department of Security Service (DSS) seeking to withdraw the charges.

Rather than the drop of the charge bringing succour to Kanu, it actually sets him up for a graver offence of acts and sponsorship of terrorism to be brought against him at a court of competent jurisdiction.

DSS’ counsel, Moses Idakwo had hinted on a tougher charge while applying to withdraw the charge against Kanu at the Chief Magistrate Court several weeks ago.
Usman, who had fixed December 1 to rule on DSS application failed to do so owing to unofficial claims of his bereavement, while ruling on it yesterday held that “The accused person is hereby discharged and the case struck out.”

The Chief Magistrate was silent on strong complaints by Kanu’s lawyer, Egechukwu Obetta that the same DSS, which had flouted his order admitting the accused to bail and could not therefore be entitled to request any favour from same court until it has complied with said order.

After the lower court granted him bail, the DSS got an order of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division to keep Kanu for another ninety days.

However, Obetta, filed a counter application, seeking bail for his client on the contention that the 90 days detention order was obtained by fraud

Meanwhile, Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Adeniyi Ademola, is expected to rule on another bail application for Kanu today.