JUST IN: Court dismisses Kanu’s application for bail, adjourns till November

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fresh bail application for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Trial judge, 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, which led to the revocation of an earlier bail granted to him by the court.

Kanu’s application for bail was filed pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge preferred against him by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Plaintiff, who is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), also challenged the revocation of his earlier bail.

He asked the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.

The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he fled for his life after his home town 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While contending that he was denied a fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed from Israel, after he fled from the country.

However, Justice Nyako noted that from records of the court, Kanu was represented by his lawyer on the day his earlier bail was revoked, likewise his sureties.

READ: Judge orders DSS to allow Kanu watch Liverpool matches on TV

“In fact, the 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,” The Punch quoted the judge as saying.

Justice 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 ruled.

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 mention, to await the outcome of Kanu’s appeal.