Biafra: Court denies Nnamdi Kanu bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, denied leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) bail.

The Justice Binta Nyako-led court held that the offences Kanu and others were standing trial for were not entirely bailable.

She said the charge of treasonable felony they were facing attracts a life sentence.

She consequently denied all accused persons bail on the grounds that their case was sensitive to national security.

Also, the trial judge, while reacting to an argument of Kanu’s legal team regarding a recent statement made by President Muhammadu Buhari where he claimed Kanu was guilty of the offence he was standing trial for, said, “The President has freedom of speech; he can express his opinion on any matter.”

Recall that Kanu, alongside Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, were re-arraigned by the Federal Government on 11-count charge bothering on terrorism, treasonable felony and publication of defamatory matter.

Justice Nyako recently took over the trial of Kanu following the withdrawal of the former trial judge, John Tsoho, over allegation of bias levelled against him by the defence team of the pro-Biafra agitator.

Following his re-arraignment before Justice Nyako of the same court, the incarcerated IPOB leader through his legal team, had filed an application for bail on November 8.

Against the backdrop of the application, the new trial judge had fixed Thursday December 1 for consideration of the application.