IPOB : Kanu takes another shot at getting bail

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has again, tried his luck towards regaining freedom, by filing for bail before Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court, after he was rearraigned on a 11-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and terrorism and other offences bordering on the agitation for secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

Counsel to the IPOB leader, Ifeanyi Ejiofor while arguing the bail application urged the court to admit Kanu to bail on liberal terms.

According to him, the application is supported by a 26-paragraph affidavit and 35 exhibits, which include the charge filed against Kanu at the magistrate court, the ruling of the court granting him bail, the ruling of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja, ordering unconditional release of the Biafra leader, a newspaper publication of a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that the first defendant (Kanu) will not be granted bail by any court.

He further informed the court that the first defendant had initiated a contempt proceedings against the Department of State Services (DSS), before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja for refusing to obey an order of the court made last year, granting him bail.

Kanu who was rearraigned alongside three others also saw, counsel representing the other defendants urging the court, to grant them bail on very liberal terms.

Prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, however asked the court to refuse the applications and order an accelerated hearing in the matter, on the grounds that the defendants are threat to national security, adding that the firearm licence, which the third defendant claimed he has, was not issued by the appropriate authority.

He also drew the court’s attention to the application filed by the prosecution. seeking witness protection in the matter, which he said has been served on all the parties in the matter.

Having heard the applications, the trial judge, Justice Nyako adjourned ruling on the bail to December 1, 2016.

In the new amended charge filed by the  Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Umar, the Federal Government added five fresh charges to the earlier six the defendants  were initially charged with, and included one David Nwawusi with the other two, Onwudiwe Chidiebere and Benjamin Madubugwu earlier charged alongside Kanu.