Nnamdi Kanu
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dashed the hopes of pro-Biafrans and their sympathizers as it rejected the bail applications filed by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, and three others charged by the Federal Government for offences including treasonable felony and an act preparatory to act of terrorism.
Recall that Justice John Tsoho, who was handling the case before Kanu accused him of bias, had also denied the accused persons bail.
The case was transferred to Justice Nyako on grounds of Kanu’s allegation and all the accused were re-arraigned before the judge on November 8.
The lawyers to the four accused persons subsequently argued their clients’ bail application on November 17.
However Justice Nyako, ruling on the bail application said she had no reason to “deviate” from the earlier “findings” of Justice Tsoho to warrant her to grant bail to the accused as the charges preferred against them were “serious offences”. Notwithstanding the fact that she acknowledged that the matter started afresh before her.
As alternative to granting bail to the defendants, she prefered to order accelerated hearing of the case.
Kanu’s co-accused who were denied bail on Thursday were the National Coordinator of IPOB member, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
They are charged with treasonable felony, accused of managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among other things.
The alleged offences stemmed from the alleged activities of the accused persons on Radio Biafra and agitation for a Biafra Republic, which would be made up of states in the South-East, South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue states.
The leadership of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, had on Monday urged Igbo to fast and pray for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, and others being detained by the Federal Government.
The Leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu had in a statement called on Igbo to intensify the efforts towards the release of Kanu and other detained pro-Biafran agitators.
cpcnews.org 