Ebun Francis || The Abuja High Court on Tuesday ordered Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to produce Nnamdi Kanu or Forfeit the N100m he deposited as surety for the release on bail of the IPOB leader.
Abaribe had earlier through his lawyer, Ogechi Ogbonna argued for the refund of the surety sum because Kanu’s absence was the fault of the Nigeria Army who invaded his home last month.
But the Judge while responding to Ogbonna’s argument said Abaribe has only three options-
Ebun Francis || The absence of the self styled IPOB leader did not, however, derail the court proceedings as one of the people who signed Kanu’s bail bond moved to opt out of the bond.
In a motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, filed by his lawyer, the PDP Senator from Abia State is asking the court to refund the N100 million bond earlier agreed to be given as part of Mr. Kanu’s bail condition.
Abaribe cited the invasion of Kanu’s home in September by the Nigeria Army which lead to the disappearance of the IPOB leader.
Abaribe said, “Since the stated visit of the Nigerian Army to the residence of the first defendant from September 11, 2017, the second respondent in this suit (Mr. Kanu) has not been seen in public, neither has he been reported as making any statement on any issue.”
“The activities of the Nigerian Army as affecting the second defendant are matters of state secret incapable of being unravelled by the applicant, which activities have put the second defendant out of the reach of the applicant, such that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to produce the second defendant before this court.“Since September 20, the reports have been that the federal government has proscribed IPOB, and declared it a terrorist organization.
“The applicant lacks capacity to produce the person stated by the first respondent (government) as a terrorist or a person who is of interest to the applicant.”
More to follow…