The Federal Government has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the bail granted to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, for failing to keep to the terms of the bail.
The government particularly wants Kanu to be returned to prison for issuing threats that the scheduled gubernatorial election in Anambra state would not hold unless there was a referendum about the proposed secession of the south-east region from Nigeria.
Other grounds cited by the government include claims that Kanu has allegedly conducted himself in manners that threaten public peace and his choosing to address crowds exceeding 10 persons as against the court’s directive that he must not be seen in a crowd of over 10 people.
The government made the demands in response to an application filed on behalf of the IPOB leader that his bail conditions be reviewed by the court. In the counter-motion, dated August 1, 2017 and filed by Magaji Labaran of the Federal Ministry of Justice, the government argued that not only had Kanu not met the bail conditions and was enjoying the bail, it was also an affront to the court’s authority for the IPOB leader to approach the court for the review of the conditions, having allegedly breached them.
“The offence for which he (Kanu) is standing trial is not ordinarily bailable; the court, not withstanding, granted bail to the 1st defendant/applicant (Kanu) on health grounds on 25th April 2017,” a portion of the motion published by The Nation read.
The government added, “We categorically state that justice would have been denied the state by this court, if the state is not protected from the offences being perpetrated by the 1st defendant/applicant, who is currently on bail.”
Kanu and four other suspected IPOB members – Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie – are being tried before the Federal High Court, Abuja on offences relating to conspiracy and treasonable felony.
