State fails to charge ‘coup plotters’ with treason

The three individuals who are being held for attempting to attack the Presidency have been hit with five charges.

The charges do not include treason as it was earlier thought per government statement.

A government statement Monday said they planned to destabilise the country and also attempted to attack the Presidency.

At the magistrate court today, however, they were charged with; 1. Conspiracy to commit a crime – Manufacture of arms and ammunition without lawful authority.

2. Conspiracy to commit a crime – Possession of explosives and firearms without lawful authority.

3. Manufacture of firearms without lawful authority.

4. Manufacture of explosives and ammunition’s without lawful authority

5. Possession of explosives and firearms.

Meanwhile, a private legal practitioner representing the three suspects says the weapons exhibited by the government do not belong to his clients.

Victor Adawudu in an interview with Starr News stated that his clients completely deny owning most of the weapons found at the Citadel Hospital and exhibited by the government to back its claims that his clients were attempting to destabilise the country.

Government on Monday announced a planned attack on the jubilee House had been detected and foiled by a combined team of CID and BNI operatives.

The planned attack was intended to destabilise the country, government said in a statement.

The said operation, according to a statement from the Information Ministry, took place on Thursday, September 19, 2019.