Magistrate Shuaibu Usman struck out all criminal charges levelled against Mr. Kanu after counsel to the State Security Services, Moses Idakwo, filed for discontinuation of the matter on the instruction of his client.
Mr. Usman said since the SSS, through its lawyer, had filed for a discontinuation of the case, he had no option than to discharge the accused.
Mr. Idakwo said further investigations by the SSS had shown that charges against Mr. Kanu could not be entertained by a Magistrate Court due to lack of jurisdiction.
Although he has been discharged by the magistrate court, Mr. Kanu may have a few more steps to freedom as he is also being tried at a Federal High Court.
At the hearing of the case on Monday, Mr. Idakwo told a Federal High Court in Abuja that Mr. Kanu, was sponsoring terrorism against Nigeria.
Mr. Idakwo asked the court to disregard a bail application by Mr. Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obeta, as the matter involving his client was terrorism-related.
He said the SSS had evidence of bank accounts owned by the accused person where monies (both in dollars and pound sterling) were allegedly used for financing acts of terrorism against the country.
Mr. Idakwo told the court that Mr. Kanu had dual citizenship of Britain and Nigeria and therefore could flee and escape justice if granted bail.
Mr. Obeta also said his client had been in detention for 90 days.
After hearing the arguments of the two counsel regarding the bail application, the judge said he would look into the matter, setting aside Thursday, December 17, to deliver ruling on Mr. Kanu’s bail.
Mr. Kanu had been in detention at the SSS cell since his arrest in October by the secret service operatives.
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