BREAKING NEWS, Judiciary
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A FEDERAL high court in Abuja on Thursday, December 1, dismissed the bail applications filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and three others with whom he is standing trial for offences including treasonable felony and an act preparatory to act of terrorism.
Justice Binta Nyako, presiding judge, while ruling on the applications filed by the defendants, said that they were not deserving as most of the charges preferred against them were “ordinarily not bailable”.
A similar ruling had been given by Justice John Tsoho, who was handling the case before Kanu accused him of bias. Hence, the case was transferred to Nyako on the account of Kanu’s allegation and all the accused were re-arraigned before her on November 8.
In her ruling on Thursday, Nyako said that she had no reason to “deviate” from the earlier “findings” of Tsoho. She said that though the case started 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 said as alternative to granting bail to the defendants, she would prefer to order accelerated hearing of the case.
The lawyers to the four accused persons had argued their clients’ bail applications on November 17 before Nyako.
Denied bail alongside Kanu on Thursday, were Chidiebere Onwudiwe, national coordinator of the IPOB, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, members.
The 11-count charges against them, include treasonable felony, accused of managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods.
Onwudiwe was specifically accused in one of the counts of an act preparatory to an act of terrorism.
All the counts were in connection with the accused persons’ alleged broadcasts on Radio Biafra and agitation for the secession from Nigeria, states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue states to constitute a Republic of Biafra.
— Dec 1, 2016 @ 14:10 GMT
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