A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday struck out eight out of the 15 counts filed against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by the Nigerian government.
Kanu is standing trial on charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism before the court.
Justice Binta Nyako on Friday delivering judgement struck out counts 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 filed against Kanu by the Nigerian government.
Kanu is now to stand trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 15.
Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s lead counsel who described the charges as “defective and baseless,” in his application seeks the “quashing, striking out and dismissing of the 15-count amended charge” for being “incompetent and denying the court of jurisdiction to entertain the suit”.
The application, premised on 34 grounds and supported by a 36-paragraph affidavit, is also seeking an order acquitting and discharging Kanu.
Ozekhome however adopted his application and asked the court to strike out the entire charge.
Meanwhile, Shuaibu Labaran, the prosecution counsel, asked the court to dismiss the defendant’s application.