The leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kalu was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, December 1, 2016.
Dozens of pro-Biafra campaigners stood outside the court chanting slogans such as “All hail Biafra” and “All we want is freedom.”
Below are photos from outside of the court:
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court refused bail to Nnamdi Kanu, whose arrest last year sparked a wave of bloody protests across Nigeria.
Kanu’s group has emerged as the new face of the campaign by the Igbo people of southeast Nigeria for a separate Biafra state.
The IPOB leader has been in custody since his arrest in October 2015, facing charges of treason, operating pirate Radio Biafra and belonging to an unlawful organisation.
Federal high court judge Binta Nyako refused an application by Kanu’s lawyers to release him and three others, ruling that the “alleged offences for which the defendants are standing trial are serious.”
Nyako said Kanu and the other suspects could face up to life in prison if convicted.
In refusing bail, Nyako also ordered the case heard “almost immediately but not later than two months from now.” Kanu’s lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor told AFP he would appeal.
“We are surprised at the ruling of the court but we still have the right of appeal,” he said.
The court is now adjourned until December 13 to consider a prosecution request for the trial to be conducted behind closed doors to protect witnesses.
After the hearing, Kanu and the other suspects, all dressed in white, were whisked away by security officials.
