Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed March 19 for ruling on a fresh bail application filed by the detained leader of the prescribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Binta Nyako chose the date yesterday after taking arguments from lawyers to parties at the resumed hearing in the terrorism case the Federal Government filed against Kanu.
The IPOD leader is being tried on a seven-count bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism related offences. The trial resumed following the December 15, 2023 judgment of the Supreme Court, which voided the earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal that freed Kanu.
The Supreme Court, though faulted the manner Kanu was brought back into the country from Kenya without going through the normal extradition process, ordered that the defendant be tried on the seven counts left among the 15-count charge originally filed against him.
There was tight security within and around the court premises by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), some of whom were hooded.
Roads leading to the court complex were blacked, while vehicular and human movements were restricted.
Movement in and around the court building was also restricted, which affected the normal sitting of the other courts within the complex. Arguing Kanu’s bail application, his lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on health grounds.
Ejimakor said it would be difficult for Kanu to prepare for his defence unless he was admitted to bail and have unfettered access to his lawyers.
The lawyer claimed that Kanu was suffering from acute hypertension and heart ailments, among others.
He argued another motion, praying the court not to allow the continuation of Kanu’s trial until the Federal Government met certain conditions.
Some of the conditions, he said, include DSS operatives to be barred from interfering with the defendant’s lawyers during visitation.
He also requested that the court compel the Federal Government to allow him wear the clothes of his choice.
Prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) objected to the defendant’s request for bail. Awomolo noted that Kanu was once granted bail but jumped it and fled the country.
The prosecuting lawyer added that Kanu had also breached all the bail conditions earlier set by the court.
In faulting Kanu’s request in the second motion, Awomolo argued that the defendant has no right under any law to dictate how his trial should be conducted.
He urged the court to decline the request, arguing that it amounted to a gross abuse of the court process that should not be accepted.
Eric Ikhilae,The Nation
