IPOB : Again, Kanu and others push for bail

… DSS intensify harrasment on journalist as correspondents boycott proceedings

The leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has again moved for his bail before Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel representing Kanu at the resumption of the matter, prayed the court to grant him bail on health grounds.

In support of the motion, the bail earlier granted Kanu by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the same court was attached including a letter sent to the Comptroller General of Nigerian Prisons, over the deteriorating health conditions of Kanu.

Similarly, the other three defendants sought for bail on the grounds that, they have been in detention for a long time while the trial had been ongoing.

E.I. Esene, counsel representing the
third defendant specifically told the court, that operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) had restrained him from seeing his client : “it seems there is a plot to kill the defendants”.

Shuaibu Labaran, prosecuting counsel, while objecting to the bail applications, observed that they predicated on extinct Criminal Procedure Act (CPA).

“The court has taken a stance in respect of a similar application, in all, the process there has no exceptional circumstance arose as contemplated by Section 162 of the ACJA that would warrant the court to grant the application.

“That the constant delay in prosecution of this case at the instance of interlocutory applications, brought by the defendants, we urge your lordship to dismiss the application and maintain your order for accelerated hearing,” he submitted.

While Kanu’s lawyer attempted to move his application for variation, in the earlier order for protection of security operatives who are meant to testify, Justice Nyako emphatically told the parties that she would not rescind on her earlier order.

Even though Inalegwu Adoga, counsel representing the second defendant, Justice Nyako insistently told parties involved that she was not ready to jeopardise protection of the security operatives.

The matter was however adjourned to April 6, 2017 for the review of the order on witness protection, the court adjourned to April 25, 2017 for ruling on the bail application.

Kanu has been standing trial alongside Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, in an 11 count charge bothering over terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods before it was quashed to six.

Justice Nyako had earlier struck out six out of the 11 count amended charge filed against  before it, by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

However, plain clothe operatives of the DSS had a filled day harassing journalists, instructing them not to go in with their phones, as against a privilege granted to them by the Federal High Court, embarrassingly even asking our reporter and others, that they cannot go into the courtroom with their bag.

It is worthy of note that while some judicial correspondents engaged the operatives in war of words, some others boycotted the court sitting.