Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged by The Nigerian Government to
revoke the bail granted to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People
of Biafra (IPOB) and return him to prison.
According ot the government, that Kanu has breached the conditions
attached to the bail granted him on April 25 this year on health ground
and has allegedly conducted himself in manners that threaten public
peace. It also cited Kanu’s alleged threat that elections would not hold
in South East states until the governmnet conducts a referendum on
whether or not Biafra should secede.
The government, in a counter-motion, dated August 1, 2017 filed by
Magaji Labaran of the Federal Ministry of Justice, urged the court to
dismiss an application by Kanu, seeking a review of the bail conditions.
It noted that not only had Kanu met the bail conditions and was
enjoying the bail, it was an affront to the court’s authority for the
IPOB leader to approach the court for the review of the bail conditions,
having allegedly breached the conditions.
“The offence for which he (Kanu) is standing trial is not
ordinarily bailable; the court, not withstanding, granted bail to the
1st defendant/applicant (Kanu) on health grounds on 25th April 2017.
Among other conditions for the bail of the 1st defendant is that he
should not be seen in a crowd exceeding 10 people; that he should not
grant any interviews, hold or attend any rallies; that he should file,
in court, medical updates of his health status every month. The bail
conditions were perfected by the 1stdefendant/applicant, which he is
currently enjoying".
“Rather than observing all the conditions listed above, the 1st
defendant, in fragrant disobedience to the court order, flouted all
conditions given by the court. The 1st defendant equally incited his
members to disrupt, disallow and boycott elections in South East states,
starting with Anambra State gubernatorial election scheduled for
November 18 if the Federal Government failed to hold referendum for the
realisation of the state of Biafra. The 1st defendant has already
declared the bail conditions given by the court unconstitutional before
approaching this court with the application for variation. Rather than
showing remorse for his actions, the 1st defendant approached this court
with an application for a review of the same conditions for the bail
which he grossly flouted".
“Considering the above, that the 1st applicant has violated the
conditions on which the terms of his bail were premised, we urge this
court to commit the defendant to prison by invoking the provision of
Section 173(2)(B) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
We categorically state that justice would have been denied the state by
this court, if the state is not protected from the offences being
perpetrated by the 1stdefendant/applicant, who is currently on bail,” the Federal Government said.
Kanu and four other suspected IPOB members Chidiebere Onwudiwe,
Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie are being tried
before the Federal High Court, Abuja on offences relating to conspiracy
and treasonable felony.
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