A Federal High Court in Abuja has denied bail to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and his two other co-accused.
Kanu and two others are being prosecuted for treasonable felony and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.
Justice John Tsoho in rejecting the accused persons’ bail application on Friday held that they were not entitled to bail as they failed to show that they would not continue to commit the alleged crime for which they were being prosecuted.
The judge also upheld the contention by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Mohammed Diri, who had opposed the bail application, to the effect that the accused were likely to interfere with and intimidate prosecuting witnesses.
The judge also ruled that contrary to the contention by defence lawyers, the charges preferred against the accused were not trumped up.
The court held that rather than contradict the allegations levelled against the accused persons in the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution in opposition to their bail application, the defendants only went on to insist that the agitation for the Republic of Biafra was within their right.
The judge also ruled that Kanu’s admission that he was a dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain further heightened the possibility of him jumping bail.
The judge ruled that rather than grant bail to the accused person, he would order an accelerated hearing of the case with the possibility of hearing it on daily basis.
The judge ordered that the accused persons should remain in Kuje prison throughout their trial.
He adjourned till February 9, 10, 11 and 12 for trial.
Kanu, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu were being prosecuted on six counts of treasonable felony and unlawful possession of firearms preferred against them by the Federal Government. (Punch)
