Treason, criminal offense involving
the attempt, by overt acts, to overthrow the government to which the offender
owes allegiance, or to betray the state to a foreign power. Two grades of treason
existed in early English law: high treason, which was directed against the
Crown, and petty treason, which consisted of a crime against a subject, such as
a wife killing her husband, or a servant murdering his master.
In early English statutes
the more serious offenses were compassing or imagining the death of the
sovereign, adhering to the sovereign's enemies and giving them aid and comfort,
and levying war against the sovereign. Statutes were changed from time to time
between the reign of Edward III and that of Elizabeth I
Article III, Section 3,
of the U.S. Constitution follows the English law: “Treason against the United
States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their
enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason
unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession
in open court.”
In the early days of the
American colonies the codes defining treason used such terms as desertion,
mutiny, attempts to subvert or alter government.”
Toward the end of the 17th century colonial law followed more closely the
English law of treason. During the French and Indian War some colonies
considered trading with the enemy treasonous. Massachusetts in 1706 declared
“correspondence” with the enemy to be treason.
During the American Revolution,
charges of treason were brought against American supporters of the British
government. Congress authorized the death penalty for American soldiers who
supported King George III. Several men were hanged for enlisting soldiers in
the king's army and for various other violations, such as furnishing supplies
to the British. Many convicted traitors were pardoned.
The most famous treasonous activity of
the Revolution was the planned surrender to the British of the fort at West
Point, New York, by the American general Benedict Arnold. His plan was
discovered in 1780 when the British soldier John André was captured with
documents detailing the surrender. In 1790, Congress fixed the
penalty for treason as death by hanging. The accused was to enjoy certain
procedural rights: a copy of the indictment; a list of jurors and witnesses at
least three days before trial; representation by counsel; compulsory process
for witnesses on behalf of the accused; and preemptory challenge of 35 members
of the jury pane.
With the above
insight, mazi Nnandi Kanu the leader of indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) is
innocent and has never committed the said offence. Therefore, he should be
released unconditionally and compensated for the illegal detention and torture
by Nigeria State. I call on international community, United nation, Lovers of
justice around the world and friends of Biafrans to prevail on President Buhari
to release mazi Nnandi Kanu and the obey international laws on human right
which Nigeria is a signatory. Please like and share!