Nnamdi Kanu’s Fresh Bail Application Dismissed By Court

Image: Vanguard News

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday. The court dismissed his fresh bail application filed through his legal team.

Kanu is currently facing a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony. He stands trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8, and 15; hence, pending the Federal Government’s determination of the charge against him, he filed a fresh bail application. He had his legal team, led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), file a fresh bail application. The team also challenged the revocation of the bail the court granted him earlier.

He demands the court set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019. The 2019 order issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the IPOB leader and gave the Federal Government the right to try him in absentia.

Kanu countered the FG’s allegation of him jumping bail to the court. He explained to the court that he ran for his life when soldiers invaded his hometown at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State. According to him, the attack led to the death of 28 individuals.

Kanu contended the denial of a fair hearing by the FG before revoking his bail. He backed up his claim with an attachment of eight exhibits which include photographs and an affidavit he deposed from Israel after he fled the nation.

Meanwhile, Justice Binta Nyako dismissed Kanu’s bail request saying that she was dissatisfied with the reason given by the IPOB leader for his failure to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.

Furthermore, the trial judge noted that from records of the court, Kanu was represented by his legal counsel (and his sureties were present, too) on the day his bail was revoked.

He pointed out that his sureties informed the court that they did not know the whereabouts of the IPOB leader and then applied to be discharged from the matter.

Justices Nyako held that the court has the power to vacate a previous order due to some serious and certifiable reason or reasons. He concluded that the defendant gave no reason to set the order aside.

In the word of Justice Nyako said:

The present application amounts to an abuse of court process for attempting to relitigate an issue already decided by the court.

He concluded by asking the IPOB leader to proceed to the Appeal Court to contest the case further.

This is not the first time the IPOB leader’s bail was declined; on March 18, it was first declined. Kanu is to provide a compelling reason for jumping bail; else, his bail will not be granted.

The case was therefore adjourned till November 14 for mention to await the outcome of Kanu’s appeal.

Source

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