The federal government has filed a fresh six-count criminal charge against the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the same court had last week ordered the release of Kanu unconditionally.
Also, an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court had last week struck out the charge earlier filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) against Kanu.
The new charge dated December 18 was filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, and signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Diri.
The arraignment would have come up yesterday but for non-service of the charge on some of the parties.
In the new charge, Kanu was accused of treasonable felony, maintaining an unlawful society and illegal possession of items, among others.
The charge also alleged that Kanu and some persons who are now at large plotted to cause crises that might force President Muhammadu Buhari to concede certain parts of Nigeria to a purported Biafra nation.
The accused was also alleged to have been maintaining unlawful society and retaining items belonging to IPOB, among others.
As stated by the charge, the offences are punishable under sections 41 (C) and 63 of the Criminal Code Act, as well as section 47(2) (a).
Charged alongside Kanu are Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
The court had last Friday while granting bail to Kanu faulted the action of the DSS for detaining Kanu for over two months without trial.
The fact of the case, according to a DSS report, was that the accused formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.
He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established Radio Biafra.
Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences the government and people of Nigeria will suffer should they attempt to hinder the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.