A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the bail of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, until the determination of the treasonable felony charges against him.
Justice Binta Nyako on Wednesday held that it would be premature to grant the bail application when the manner the defendant breached the first bail conditions had not been determined.
“However, the defendant is at liberty to refile the application,” Justice Nyako held.
The court noted that Kanu’s trial had since 2015, suffered various setbacks owing to over 19 interlocutory applications that have been filed in the matter.
Kanu had in the application he filed pursuant to sections 6(6) and 36(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as sections 161, 162, 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, asked the court to release him on bail, pending by determination of the charge against him.
He equally asked the court to order the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce his medical report of the defendant who is currently in its custody.
Kanu, told the court that he was severely tortured for eight days in Kenya, before he was repatriated back to Nigeria for continuation of his trial.
He alleged that his health condition deteriorated, following “a highly poisonous substance” he said was injected into his system, which he said is causing him to have constipation and increased heart beat.
Insisting that the DSS lacks the necessary medical facility to cater for his health needs, Kanu, told the court that he was confined to solitary confinement where he alleged that he was daily exposed to mental torture.
The IPOB leader told the court that he has “credible and reliable sureties”, pledging that he would not commit any offence while on bail.
Meanwhile, the federal government plans to file amended charges against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, alongside his lawyers on an amended six-count treasonable felony charge.
A member of the defence team, who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said lawyers like Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Maxwell Opara, are listed as accomplices of the defendant.
The prosecution alleged that the said lawyers, were constantly in contact with Kanu, after he jumped bail and fled the country.
The court had on April 8 reduced the treasonable felony charges against Kanu from 15 to seven after the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako noted that the charges were repetitive.
The federal government had in the counts that were struck out, alleged that Kanu had through his broadcasts, incited members of the public to not only stage a violent revolution, but to attack police officers and also destroy public facilities in Lagos State.
While the court threw out counts 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12,13 and 14 of the charge, it okayed Kanu’s trial on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15.
[Daily Trust]