Mazi Kanu.
By Advocatenewsng.com.
A Federal High Court, Abuja, sitting before Justice Binta Nyako on Wednesday asked the Department of State Security Service (DSS), (The Secret Police), to return the self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) and the mastermind of the Eastern Security Network, (ESN), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to its detention facility after it roundly rejected his bail plea for a temporary freedom.
The court which hinged its refusal on Kanu’s bail application, blamed it on his earlier breach of the liberal conditions granted him in 2017 which he jumped.
The judge however gave him another window to reapply for bail as his trial progresses while in custody of the State.
Meanwhile, in another ruling on the same matter, Justice Nyako struck out about seven amended charges brought by the Federal Government against the IPOB leader which it ultimately withdrew in order to open its prosecution and accelerate the trial of this special renditioned guest of the State.
Ruling on the bail application on Wednesday, Justice Nyako said she was not convinced as to why Kanu breached his previous bail conditions.
The court therefore imposed a legal duty on Kanu through his lawyers to explain why he jumped bail in the first discretion granted him in 2017 before he could enjoy another favourable opportunity from the court.
According to Nyako, “Until the issue of 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”
Kanu has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 following his rendition to Nigeria from Kenya.
He had fled Nigeria in 2017 during trial after the military invaded his home in Umuahia, Abia State.
He is facing seven counts charge bothering on treasonable felony, after eight of the initial 15-counts charge preferred by the Federal Government were struck out.
Justice Nyako had on April 8, struck out eight out of the 15-count treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against Kanu.
The judge held that the charges were mere repetitions that did not disclose any offence that could be sustained by the proof of evidence before the court.
Additional report by SR.
WORDS ON MARBLE: “Freedom and justice cannot be parceled out in pieces to suit political convenience. I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others.” ― Coretta Scott King
