The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday rejected a fresh application filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to be released on bail, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
The court, in a verdict issued by trial Justice Binta Nyako, stated that it did not want to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendant, whom it claimed had jumped the bail it had previously granted him.
Justice Nyako stated that after the defendant fled the country, those who bore surety for him addressed the court and asked to be released from the case.
She held that the sureties claimed in their petitions that they were unaware of the defendant’s whereabouts, prompting the court to order the forfeiture of their N100 million bail bonds.
According to the court, the matter is currently pending at the Court of Appeal.
It ruled that because Kanu’s bail plea had been denied on many occasions, his only choice was to file an appeal.
Likewise, the court denied Kanu’s request to be moved to prison or placed under home arrest.
However, it directed the Department of State Services, or DSS, to always allow Kanu access to his team of lawyers, which should not exceed five people every visiting day.
It directed that Kanu be given “a clean place” to consult with his lawyers at the DSS detention facility, adding that he must be granted access to a doctor of his choice.
Justice Nyako warned that any attempt by Kanu’s legal team to file similar applications with the court would be considered a blatant misuse of the judicial process.
“You have an option of appeal; please exercise your right of appeal,” the trial judge added.
Kanu was originally arrested in Lagos on October 14, 2015, while returning from the United Kingdom.
On April 25, 2017, Justice Nyako granted him bail on health grounds after almost 18 months in detention.
