Nnamdi Kanu was today denied his bail application at the Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako. The trial continued on Wednesday with more twists from the Federal Government, which now seeks to deny the IPOB leader the right of a counsel and legal representation in the ongoing treason trial brought against him by the Nigerian government.
Kanu`s had made a bail application to the Federal High Court, expecting to be released on bail pending the determination of the treasonable felony charges the Federal Government preferred against him.
This application came up for hearing this Wednesday, but was unsuccessful. The judge declined to grant the expected bail to the embattled IPOB leader.
KEY FACTS
- Kanu`s bail application was filed pursuant to sections 6(6) and 36(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
- It was also based on sections 161, 162, 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
- The IPOB leader prayed the honourable court to release him on bail, pending the determination of the charges against him.
- Kanu also argued that he was entitled to the bail he sought because he has “credible and reliable sureties”, and also because he has not been convicted of any offence before.
- On the contrary the Federal Government opposed Kanu`s bail application, claiming that he may never return for trial, considering the enormity of the charges against him.
- The court sided with the government and refused Kanu`s bail application, claiming that the IPOB leader breached the terms of previous bail granted him, and have not explained the reason for his action.
NOTABLE QUOTES
The trial judge, Justice Nyako, in refusing the bail application held as follows:
“Until the issue of absence of the defendant for his trial, with all the bail conditions breached, is determined, the instant application of the defendant for bail will at best be premature and it is refused.
“However, the defendant is at liberty to refile the application”, Justice Nyako held.
NEW DEVELOPMENT
Following the striking out by the trial court, of 8 out of the 15 charges of treasonable felony preferred against the IPOB leader, the Federal Government have reacted by dragging some lawyers representing Nnamdi Kanu into the matter as parties.
In a Vanguard report, “a member of Kanu’s legal team, who craved anonymity, told Vanguard on Wednesday that FG had in the amended charge, listed some lawyers representing the embattled IPOB leader, including Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Mr. Maxwell Opara, as accomplices of the defendant.”
This in effect could be seen by the IPOB team as a grand design by the Nigerian government to further intimidate Kanu and his lawyers, and so doing scare lawyers from defending the IPOB leader.
This move according to the report is based on the fact that Kanu`s lawyers were in contact with him, while he was on the run after his country was unlawfully invaded by the agents of the federal government, during which many civilians were murdered by the Nigerian soldiers.
BACKGROUND
The IPOB leader who was abducted in Kenya and brought to Nigeria by agents of the Nigerian government. He has been accused of several crimes, including treason against the state.
This was following his escape from Nigeria while on court granted bail in the same treasonable felony trial, which began since 2015.
This was also following the invasion of his country home by soldiers of the Nigerian army in an alleged attempt by the Federal Government to assassinate him.
