Shuaibu Labaran, counsel to the federal government, said Nnamdi Kanu “vehemently” denied being a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Briefing Journalists at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court shortly after the trial, Mr Labaran said that Mr Kanu denied his IPOB membership before the Justice.

“One of the charges suggesting that the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, is a member of IPOB, and he vehemently denied being a member of IPOB,” claimed the federal government lawyer. “That is very curious, and we urge Nigerians to see us through how we are going to prove all those charges against the defendant in no time to come.”

Mr Kanu, who was extradited to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021, is facing charges of treasonable felony, terrorism among others.

The government filed 15 fresh charges of terrorism against the secession agitator on Monday, January 17.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the 15-count charge before Justice Binta Nyako on Wednesday.

The trial has been adjourned until February 16 for further hearing.

Meanwhile, the Abia State High Court awarded Mr Kanu N1 billion as compensation for the unlawful invasion of his house by military operatives on September 10 2017.

Justice Benson Anya, who gave the ruling on Wednesday, also ordered the federal government to issue an apology letter to Mr Kanu for violating his rights.