Bail: Court declines Kanu’s application, insist he must explain jumping bail for over 4 years

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu was on Wednesday refused bail by a federal high court in Abuja.

Presiding judge, Binta Nyako, who made the decision following the application for bail by Kanu’s counsel, Mike Ozekhome, advised parties to allow the trial to go on.

“Until a person is tried and convicted, he should be allowed to walk free,” Ozekhome said in the bail application.

He reminded the court that a defendant ought to enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and urged that his client’s deteriorating health condition be considered.

But ruling on the bail application, the judge held that “the application is premature and refused with liberty to refile and reapply”.

Nyako, who recalled granting bail to the Biafra separatist leader in April 2017, stated that until Kanu addresses the court on why he jumped bail for over four years, she will not entertain any bail application.

Kanu was re-arraigned by the federal government on an amended 15-count charge bordering on treasonable felony.

The judge had on April 8, struck out eight out of the 15-count charge.

While counts 6,7,9,10,11,12,13 and 14 were struck out, the defendant is to stand trial on counts 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 15.