I came across this topic and felt I should share it with my fellow Nairalanders just us to be educated and well informed about this topic.

The State can aptly be considered as an embodiment of the people. The state is represented by the government and thus, anyone who tries to overthrow the state or the government, is also attacking the people. Attacking the state through the form of war or trying to overthrow the government of the day is categorised under treason. On the other hand, performing acts that are related to treason is regarded as treasonable felony.
The major difference between treason and treasonable felony is the fact that while treason is punishable by death, treasonable felony is punishable by life imprisonment.

The Offence of Treason

Treason has been defined by the Black’s law dictionary 9 editions as:
The offense of attempting to overthrow the government of the state to which one owes allegiance, either by making war against the state or by materially supporting its enemies.
According to the provision of the Criminal Code, anyone who levies war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the president or governor of a state is guilty of treason and should be punished by death.
The Criminal Code also categorises as treason anyone who conspires with others, either within or outside Nigeria, to levy war against Nigeria. It is also treason to instigate a foreigner to invade Nigeria with an armed force.
It should be noted that if any person who is under the age of 18 is involved in treason, such person would not be executed but would be detained on the pleasure of the president. Similarly, S. 39(2) of the Criminal Code provides that if a pregnant woman participates in treason, the procedure stated in S.376 of the Criminal Procedure Act should be followed.
Whether or not the persons involved in act of treason are military personnel is immaterial. Also, the number of persons carrying out the act is not a factor in determining the offence. The essence of waging the war must be for general or public purpose, if it just for private reasons, it would best be regarded as a riot or public disturbance.
No person can be convicted of treason unless he pleads guilty or there are more than two witnesses to attest to the fact that he committed the offence

The Offence of Treasonable Felony

According to the Black’s law Dictionary 9 Edition, treasonable felony is:
An act that shows an intention of committing treason, unaccompanied by any further act to carry out that intention. This offense also results in life imprisonment rather than the death penalty.
Acts which constitute treasonable felony in Nigeria are contained in the provisions of S. 40 to S. 43 of the Criminal Code.
The first instance of treasonable felony is contained in S. 40. According to this provision, anyone who becomes an accessory after the fact to treason or has knowledge that some people want to commit treason but doesn’t report to the appropriate authorities, is guilty is a treasonable felony and would be punished by life imprisonment.
Also, the Criminal Code in the provision of S. 41 punishes by life imprisonment anyone that forms an intention to carry out the offence of treason.
It should however be noted that a person charged with the intention to commit treason cannot use proof of actual treason as a defence. On the other hand, a person that has been discharged and acquitted of the offence of intention to commit treason cannot be charged for treason.
It is also a treasonable felony for anyone to prepare, advise, aid or participate in any act of war against a traditional chief or a band of citizens.
It should be noted that according to the provisions of S. 43 of the Criminal Code, a person cannot be tried for treason or treasonable felony if the offence is tried two years after the commission of the act. `

written by: Olanrewaju Olamide

source: http://www.djetlawyer.com/treason-treasonable-felony/

Does it imply that Biafrans are treasonable felons?