Court to rule on Nnamdi Kanu’s bail request May 18

Court to rule on Nnamdi Kanu’s bail request May 18

By Steve Oko

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has fixed May 18 to decide on the bail application filed by the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu, had through his legal team, filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

He argued that his continued detention since his rendition from Kenya in June 2021 was illegal and a breach of his fundamental rights.

Trial Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, after listening to arguments by Kanu’s legal team leader, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN; and the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, fixed May 18, to decide on the matter.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that Kanu was entitled to bail since he was still presumed innocent, the Prosecution Counsel, urged the court to reject the bail request.

Labaran argued that Kanu abused his previous bail and allegedly jumped bail.

According to the Government’s lawyer, it was because of Kanu’s previous conduct that the court revoked his bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

“My lord granted him bail on 2017 on health ground, but since then, till date, no medical record was submitted to the court until he jumped bail”, he said.

But Ozekhome in his submission, faulted the arguments by Government’s lawyer, maintaining that his client never jumped bail.

Ozekhome told the court that Kanu was appearing for his trials regularly until the military raided his family Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia family house in September 2015, during the infamous Operation Python Dance ii which claimed scores of lives.

According to Ozekhome, contrary to the arguments of the Prosecuting Counsel, it was the action of the Nigeria Army that made his client to run for his life, an action he said could not be interpreted to mean jumping bail.

Ozekhome further argued that the Federal Government violated his client’s fundamental rights in the way and manner “he was forcefully abducted and extra ordinarily renditioned back to Nigeria.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged the court to grant bail to the IPOB Leader to enable him to effectively prepare his defence against treason and other counts of charge preferred against him.

Before adjourning the matter till May 18 for ruling, Justice Nyako had dismissed Ozekhome’s arguments that Kanu’s extra-ordinary rendition was illegal.

According to her, there was a subsisting warrant from the court, for Kanu’s arrest wherever he was found.

Meanwhile, a number of persons believed to be Biafra agitators and sympathizers were sighted around the court premises as they besieged the area to solidarise with the IPOB Leader.

 

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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