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8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 12, 2022
FG moves to re-arraign Nnamdi Kanu, files 7-count
amended charge
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Federal Government
has filed an amended sevencount
terrorism charge against
the detained leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra,
IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Investigation by Vanguard
revealed that the amended
charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/
383/2015, which was entered
before the Federal High Court
in Abuja, contained all
allegations against the IPOB
leader that were earlier
sustained by the trial court.
FG, specifically alleged that
Kanu who is currently in
custody of the Department of
State Service, DSS, had as a
member of an unlawful group,
in a broadcast that was received
and heard across Nigeria,
issued a deadly threat that
anyone who flouted his sit-at
home order in the South
Eastern part of the country,
should write his or her Will.
It told the court that as a result
of the threat; Banks, Schools,
Markets, Shopping Malls, Fuel
Stations domiciled in the
Eastern States of Nigeria, have
continued to shut down their
businesses, with citizens and
vehicular movements
grounded.
FG further alleged that the
IPOB leader had on diverse
dates between 2018 and 2021,
made broadcasts that were
received and heard in Nigeria,
inciting members of the public
to hunt and kill Nigerian
security personnel and their
family members, thereby
committing an offence
punishable under Section 1 (2)
(h) of the Terrorism Prevention
Amendment Act, 2013.
More so, it alleged that Kanu
directed members of the IPOB
“to manufacture Bombs”,
adding that the defendant had
between the month of March
and April 2015, “Imported into
Attah, Lekwot, Bakare, Utomi, Ezekwesili,
Ciroma, Baba-Ahmed, others float Compatriots
Group
•Move to rescue Nigeria, to engage INEC, presidential
candidates
By Levinus Nwabughiogu-Abuja
AHEAD of 2023 Presiden
tial and general elections,
a cross section of elder-statesmen
and women have formed
a socio-political and good governance
advocacy group, The
Compatriots, with a view to
engaging all stakeholders in
the 'Nigerian Project' as well
as playing the role of a neutral
'Honest Broker'.
The Leaders of thoughts
who converged on Abuja yesterday
and drawn from the six
geo - political zones, said that
the sole purpose of the group
is to rescue Nigeria from myriad
of problems confronting it
as a Nation, just as they stressed
that Nigeria has all it takes for
any Nation to survive, progress
and develope on the tenets of
equity, fairness and justice
among her citizens irrespective
of their religious, ethnic
and political differences.
In his keynote address, convener
of the group and former
Governor of Akwa Ibom state,
Obong Victor Attah who noted
that it was time to join hands
to reinvent Nigeria, said that
•L-R: USCL President, Olorogun Jacob Diedjamahor, Ovie of Evwreni, HRM Oghenekeewe
Owin Kamane Eruvwedede II; USCL Vice President, Olorogun Patrick Enurese
and Past President of USCL, Olorogun Edoreh Agbah
Nigeria and kept in
Ubulisiuzor in Ihiala Local
Government Area of
Anambra State within the
jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court, a Radio
Transmitter known as Tram
50L concealed in a container
of used household items which
you declared as used
household items, and you
thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 47 (2) (a)
of Criminal Code Act Cap,
C45 Laws of the Federation
of Nigeria 2004”.
Kanu had previously
pleaded not guilty to the
charge.
Already, trial Justice Binta
Nyako has slated next
Monday for both Kanu’s team
of lawyers led by Chief Mike
Ozekhome, SAN, and the
prosecution counsel to
address the court on the way
the Compatriots would provide
a platform for discussion
of all relevant local grievances
of Nigerian communities
in the context of Nigeria’s collective
survival and development.
Attah, who explained that
the group was not formed for
partisan politics but for good
governance in Nigeria from
2023 and beyond, said that it
would engage the Presidential
candidates of political parties
to know their plans for Nigerians
and Nigeria, the Independent
National Electoral
Commission, INEC for electoral
process, the media,
among others.
He said that core national
values of strong and united
Nigeria, equity, justice and
fairness for every citizen, realization
of full potentialities of
every Nigerian, primacy of
peaceful co - existence between
and among Nigerian
communities, proper sense of
nationhood and common nationality
are the focus of their
mission.
While Malam Hakeem
Baba-Ahmed would serve as
Deputy Chairman, Prince
Tom Iseghohi is the Secretary
forward in the matter.
The parties are to argue on
whether FG could proceed to
re-arraign the IPOB leader on
the amended charge, despite
the October 13 judgement of
the Court of Appeal that
discharged him of all the
allegations, as well as appeals
on the subject matter that are
still pending before the
Supreme Court.
It will be recalled that trial
Justice Nyako had on April 8,
struck out eight out of the 15-
count charge FG preferred
against Kanu on the premise
that they were mere repetitions
that did not disclose any
offence that could be sustained
by the proof of evidence before
the court.
Whereas the court threw out
counts 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12,13 and
14 of the charge, it okayed
Kanu’s trial on counts 1, 2, 3,
and Chief Operating Officer.
Members of the group are
drawn from the North and
South of the country. Those
from the North are Hajia Kadariya
Ahmed, Chief Silas
Mak Akpa, Alhaji Mohammed
Murtala Aliyu, Dr. Kabir
Chafe; Hajia Inna Ciroma and
Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa. Others
are Professor Rahila Gowon,
Dr. Enyantu Ifene, Hajia Asmau
Joda, retired Generals
Zamani Lekwot and Saleh
Maina as well as Engineer
Bello Suleiman.
Members drawn from the
South include Honourable
Mulikat Adeola Akande,
Prince Niyi Akenzua, Pastor
Tunde Bakare, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili,
Dr. Dele Farotimi, Amb.
Godknows Igali, Chief Emmanuel
Iwuanyanwu, Alhaji
Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka, Hajia
Nene Lanval, Dr. Nella Rabana
SAN and Honourable
Nkoyo Toyo.
Attah noted that the strategic
objectives of the group are
to mobilize the best intellectual
resources in addressing the
key challenges that are hindering
the development of Nigeria
as a strong and viable political
and economic
4, 5, 8 and 15.
In the counts that were struck
out, FG, among other things,
alleged that Kanu, through his
broadcasts, incited members of
the public to not only stage a
violent revolution, but to attack
police officers and also destroy
public facilities in Lagos State.
Not satisfied with decision of
the trial judge to sustain some
of the allegations against him,
Kanu took the matter before the
Abuja Division of the Court of
Appeal where he won.
In its judgement, a three-man
panel of the appellate court led
by Justice Jummai Hanatu-
Sankey, quashed the entire 15-
count charge, even as it
discharged and ordered the
release of the IPOB leader from
detention.
The court said it was satisfied
that FG flagrantly violated all
known laws, when it forcefully
rendered Kanu from Kenya to
the country for the continuation
of his trial.
It held that such extraordinary
rendition, without
adherence to due process of the
law, was a gross violation of all
international conventions,
treaties, protocols and
guidelines that Nigeria is
signatory to, as well as a breach
of the Appellant’s fundamental
human rights.
The appellate court, in its
lead judgement that was
delivered by Justice Oludotun
Adetope-Okojie, noted that FG
failed to refute the allegation
that the IPOB leader was in
Kenya and that he was
abducted and brought back to
the country without any
extradition proceeding.
It held that FG was
“ominously silent on the issue”,
which it described as very
pivotal in determining whether
the trial court would still have
the jurisdiction to continue
with the criminal proceeding
before it.
The appellate court held that
FG’s action tainted the entire
proceeding it initiated against
Kanu and amounted to “an
abuse of criminal prosecution
in general”.
Meanwhile, FG had since
gone to the Supreme Court to
set aside the judgement, even
as it persuaded the appellate
court to suspend the execution
of its verdict, pending the
conclusion of the appeal before
the apex court.
Media holds roundtable on
industry regulation on Monday
Leading media houses in the country, and stakeholders
including civil society and non-media groups will gather
in Lagos on Monday to discuss an acceptable framework
for media regulation in the country.
According to a statement by the Executive Secretary of
the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN),
Feyi Smith, “this move to deepen public trust by setting up
a credible adjudicatory mechanism, is under the auspices
of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN)
in collaboration with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE),
the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Broadcasting
Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the MacArthur
Foundation.
“Respected media guru and erstwhile governor of Ogun
State, Chief Olusegun Osoba would preside at the Roundtable.
Other prominent leaders from media practice, management,
ownership, the academia, and professionals, leaders
of prominent media NGOs, the Bar, the legislature,
and the diplomatic corps are also expected.
“The theme of the roundtable is “Deepening Media Professionalism
Through Co-regulation”, and the programme
would be in two sessions. The first is on, “Thoughts on coregulation
through an independent Ombudsman framework”;
the second session will consider “the revised draft of a
new Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists”.
The event will hold at Protea Hotel Ikeja Select, Alausa,
Ikeja at 10.00am
Mal Kabiru A. Yusuf, who is also President NPAN and
President of the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO), will be
supported by the President of the NGE, Mr. Mustapha Isah;
President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo; President of BON,
Mr. John Ugbe; President of the Broadcasting Organisations
of Nigeria, Mr. Mr Guy Murray-Bruce; President of IBAN
and Mr Yakubu. C. Maikyau, SAN. President of the NBA.
Others include the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers,
Mr. Sam Amuka; Publisher of This Day Newspapers and
Arise TV, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; Mr. Ray Ekpu, former
Editor-in-chief of Newswatch; Lady Maiden Alex- Ibru, Publisher
of the Guardian Newspapers; Mr. Frank Aigbogun,
Publisher of Business Day; Ms Angela Emuwa, Chairman of
Punch Newspapers; John Momoh, Chairman of Channels
TV; Mr. Lade Bonuola, former MD of the Guardian; Mr.
Lanre Idowu; CEO, Diamond Publications; Mr. Gbenga Adefaye,
GM, Vanguard; Mr. Azu Ishiekwene, Editor-in-Chief
of Leadership newspapers; Ms. Kadaria Ahmed, CEO, Daria
Media and Radio Now, and NPAN’s Mr. Feyi Smith, among
others.
Shell set to resume operations in Imo
Multi-national oil exploration giant, Shell Petroleum
Development Company (SPDC) is set to resume operations
in Imo state after years of exiting the state due to insecurity.
This was made known Thursday by Governor Hope
Uzodimma after a meeting between him and SPDC Chairman
and Managing Director, Mr. Osagie Okunbor in Abuja.
Okunbor attended the meeting with other key officers of Shell.
The planned return of Shell to Imo is one out of numerous
efforts Governor Uzodimma had made recently to bring back
companies that left the State either as a result of insecurity or
liquidation based on debt overhang.
Also in Abuja on Saturday, the Governor successfully brought
back the Standard Shoe Company Limited hitherto operating
in Owerri but was taken over by AMCON because of
indebtedness.Governor Uzodimma successfully cleared the debt
overhang of N1.6 billion and was handed over the Certificate of
Occupancy by AMCON management to resume operations.
Shell specifically left Imo State because of insecurity even
before the coming on board of Governor Uzodimma.
Commenting on the meeting he held with Mr. Okunbor the
Governor said: “One of the observations of my administration
upon resumption of office, was the fact that Shell Petroleum
Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) had been
off-site and suspended operations in Imo State as a result of
insecurity, vandalism and illegal oil bunkering within the
region.
First approved aviation school takes
off in Lagos
The first accredited aviation training institute, Harris Air
Training School, has taken off in Lagos. This followed the
necessary accreditation and approval by relevant Nigerian
and international aviation authorities; International Air
Transport Association, IATA, and the Nigeria Civil Aviation
Authority, NCAA.
The aviation school, a Nigerian indigenous company located
at Chevyview Estate in the heart of Lekki, Lagos is expected
to deliver exceptional training courses in Cabin training on
the B737, EMB 145 and ATR 72, Basic Flights Dispatch training,
Advanced Dispatch training and IATA authorised courses
Ṫhe school will make its mark on Nigeria's aviation training
landscape and is ready to groom first grade aviation professionals.
With experienced instructors, flight dispatchers, cabin crew,
airline ticketing and ground members of staff, it is expected
that it will deliver nothing short of excellence to its trainees.
Aviation related skills are in high demand, and offer both
national and international opportunities to those that have
them.