Why court rejected Kanu”s bail application

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has today refused to grant the bail application filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and three others.

Justice Binta Nyako, while delivering ruling on the bail application, held that charge against the defendants “are very serious in nature”, and therefore not ordinarily bailable.

She held that some of the charges against the defendants could attract life imprisonment if proven beyond reasonable doubt by the FG.

“The offences are serious in nature and carries very severe punishment if proven.

“I hereby therefore refuse bail of the applicants. But in the alternative, I hereby order accelerated trial of this matter to almost commence immediately, but not later than two months”, the Judge ruled.

Justice Nyako further dismissed the arguments of the defendants that President Muhammadu Buhari had openly directed that they should not be released on bail.

She held that President Buhari, being a citizen of Nigeria, was at liberty to exercise his freedom of speech.

She said the President lacks the capacity to influence the decision of the court, saying the defendants did not place any new fact or law capable of persuading the court to reverse an earlier ruling of the court that denied them bail.

Kanu’s and his  co-accused, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawusi were arraigned before the court by the Federal Government on offences bordering on treasonable felony and their alleged involvement in acts of terrorism.

Meanwhile, the Federal government after the ruling was delivered applied for all the witnesses to be allowed to testify behind screen.

Counsels to the defendants opposed to the application submitting that granting such request would amount to a gross violation of their rights to fair hearing.