Alleged terrorism: Again, Court refuses to grant Nnamdi Kanu bail

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to grant the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) bail in the alleged terrorism charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

The Judge, on Tuesday, turned down Nnamdi Kanu’s application for bail on the ground that an earlier application he filed to that effect had been refused by the court.

Justice Nyako held that the only option opened to Kanu was to go to the Court of Appeal to challenge the earlier refusal.

The Judge also refused to give unfettered access to anybody to visit Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for security reasons.

The detained IPOB leader had, on February 26 applied for a fresh bail, hinging his request mainly on the ground that he may not be able to put up a good defence in the charges against him unless admitted to bail to have unfettered access to his lawyers.

He also claimed to be suffering from acute hypertension and acute heart disease, among others.

The federal government, however, objected to the request on the ground that Kanu was once granted bail but jumped and fled the country.

Justice Nyako asked the defendant to proceed to the Court of Appeal to vent his anger against the earlier decision of the Court rather than coming back with the same request.

Meanwhile, the federal government, represented at the proceedings by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) is pressing for opening of the trial in the terrorism charges.

At the time of filing this report, counsel to Kanu led by Alloy Ejiamakor is consulting on the next line of action.