Leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,   has asked the federal government in Abuja, to discharge and acquit him of the 15-count criminal charges filed against him by the federal government.

Kanu pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment at a Federal High Court sitting  in Abuja, on a 15-count criminal charge filed against him by the federal government.

During the proceedings yesterday, Kanu told the court to discharge and acquit him of the charges.

According to Kanu, the charges were incurably defective and had no force of law.

He said the alleged defectiveness of the charges brought against him were committed in the United Kingdom, outside the shores of Nigeria.

Kanu had pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him in the open court.

Shortly after the plea was taken, counsel to the federal government, Mr Shuaib Magaji Labaran, told the trial Judge, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, that he was prepared to proceed with formal trial of the defendant.

He informed the court that two of his witnesses were in court to testify in the case while some exhibits to be tendered to establish terrorism charges against Kanu have also been brought to court.

Labaran cited section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which stipulates that trial should begin after arraignment while objection on any issue can be taken at any time along with the substantive matters.

However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, objected to commencement of trial adding that his client has filed two motions on notice, one questioning the validity of the charges and the other seeking bail.

Ozekhome said that the two motions are so fundamental because one of them is challenging the competence of the whole charges and must be first resolved.

He said that Kanu wants to be discharged and acquitted without standing trial because the charges were incurably defective and not worth being defended.

The second motion seeking fresh bail for Kanu filed on Tuesday, January 18  and served on the prosecution on Wednesday January 19 morning was not ripe for hearing.

Justice Binta Nyako in a brief ruling agreed with Ozekhome, to take and determine the motion challenging the validity of the charges first.

The judge fixed February 16 at 12 noon for the parties to return to court to adopt their processes for and against the motion.

However, Kanu has been returned to the detention facility of the DSS till the issue of his request for bail is resolved.

Kanu’s lead lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN showered encomiums on DSS adding that his client will now live and sleep like a human being.

Justice Nyako has directed that clothes bought for Kanu by his family members be handed over to the Director of Legal Services of DSS to enable  Kanu to change his clothes during proceedings.

At the court yesterday, the federal government confirmed that the Department of the State Service, DSS, provided them with orthopedic mattress, pillows, blankets among others in compliance with court order while in custody.