IPOB: Nnamdi Kanu Urges Members To Maintain Peace As Court Dismisses His Bail Application
Nnamdi Kanu Breaks Silence After Court Denied Him Bail, Tells South-East What To Do
Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Tuesday, reacted to the ruling of Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja Federal High Court that dismissed his bail application.
Kanu said Justice Nyako’s verdict, which denied him bail was ‘expected’.
Speaking after Tuesday’s court session, the IPOB leader urged the people of the Southeast to “remain calm” and make the zone peaceful.
He said: “It is what we expect. But I want our people to be very calm. I want Biafranland to be calm, calm, and very peaceful. We are fighting to defend our people, not to kill them.
“We are fighting to defend them, that’s why I’m here. And we will continue to do so until we get a victory.”
The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he fled for his life after his hometown at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons.
While contending that he was denied a fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed from Isreal, after he fled from the country.
Meanwhile, dismissing the bail request on Tuesday, Justice Binta Nyako said she was not satisfied with the reason the IPOB leader gave for his failure to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
The trial judge noted that from records of the court, Kanu was represented by his lawyer on the day his bail was revoked, likewise his sureties.
“In fact, he sureties told the court that they did not know the whereabouts of the Defendant and even applied to be discharged from the matter. “Therefore, Defendant was not denied a fair hearing”.
Justices Nyako also held that though a court could vacate a previous order when confronted with a cogent and verifiable reason, “in the instant case, I have not been given any, neither have I been given any reason to set aside the order.
“The present application amounts to an abuse of court process for attempting to relitigate an issue already decided by the court.
“If the Defendant is dissatisfied, he has the Appeal Court to go to. This application is accordingly dismissed”, Justice Nyako said.
The Judge had also on March 18, declined to release the embattled IPOB leader on bail.
The court maintained that Kanu must explain the reason why he breached the previous bail that was given to him before he could enjoy another favourable discretion from it.
“Until the issue of the absence of the defendant for his trial, with all the bail conditions breached, is determined, the instant application of the defendant for bail will at best be premature and it is refused.
“However, the defendant is at liberty to re-file the application”, Justice Nyako said.
Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned till November 14 for a mention, to await the outcome of Kanu’s appeal.
