Chidi Samuel
Mr Nnamdi Kanu, the self styled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was on Thursday, once again, refused bail by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Kanu and three others- Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawusi are being prosecuted by the Federal Government for offences including treasonable felony and an act preparatory to act of terrorism.
In her ruling for bail filed by the IPOB leader and the other three,Justice Binta Nyako, ruled that their applications were not deserving as most of the charges preferred against were “ordinarily not bailable”. She also held that she had no reason to “deviate” from the earlier “findings” of Justice Tsoho.
According to the Judge, though the case started de novo (afresh) before her, there were no new facts and circumstances that could warrant her to grant bail to the accused as the charges preferred against them were “serious offences”. She stated that the accused will be better served if the case was granted accelerated hearing.
It will be recalled that the case was transferred to Justice Nyako following Kanu’s allegation of bias against the former Judge handling the case, a situation that forced Justice Tsoho to withdraw from the case. All all the accused were re-arraigned before Justice Nyako on November 8 and their lawyers argued their bail application on November 17.
