Kanu’s trial: Court fixes December 1 to rule on bail application

The Federal High Court on Thursday in Abuja fixed Dec. 1 to give ruling on a bail application filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that David Nwawusi, Onwudiwe Chidiebere and Benjamin Madubugwu charged along side Kanu had also urged the court to admit them on bail.

The presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako gave the date after counsel to parties had argued the joint applications.

“The court has taken judicial notice of the issues canvassed by the counsel. The decision would be made on Dec.1,’’ she held.

Earlier, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel for Kanu prayed the court to admit Kanu to bail on liberal terms.

Ejiofor, in his submission, said Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier ordered unconditional release of Kanu.

The applicant also displayed other documentary evidence and newspaper publications bearing President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that Kanu would never be granted bail by any court.

He also produced a certified true copy of certificate of incorporation of the Radio Biafra, adding that his client had not done anything wrong against the Nigerian State.

Ejiofor further said Kanu had initiated a contempt proceedings against the Department of State Services (DSS) for refusing to obey an order of the court made last year, granting him bail.

“What we are saying in essence is that the applicant is a law abiding citizen and not a threat as painted by the Federal Government and its security agencies.

“The applicant is also prepared to stand trial in order to obtain justice. He will not jump the bail when granted,’’ he said.

Ejiofor further prayed the court to also admit Onwudiwe and Madubugwu on liberal terms, adding that there were innocent of the charges brought against them.

He, however, said the applicants were ready to stand justice, as according to him, they would not jump bail when granted.

Mr Innocent Adoga, counsel to the second defendant/applicant, Nwawusi, informed the court that his client was still in custody of the DSS, instead of the Kuje prison as ordered by the court.

Adoga, therefore, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal conditions.

Mr Shuaibu Labaran, the prosecuting counsel, however, raised objections to the various bail applications.

Labaran urged the court to refuse the applications and order an accelerated hearing in the matter.

He said the activities of the applicants were a threat to national security.

According to him, they have been exposed to illegal weapons in the bid to actualize their dream of a Biafra State.

“My Lord, to be more specific, the firearm licence, which the third defendant/applicant, Chidiebere claimed he had was not issued by the appropriate authority,’’ he said.

NAN reports that Kanu and the three others are standing trial on 11-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and terrorism.

The other item in the charge bordered on illegal and violence agitation for a State of Biafra.