The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to grant bail to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charges against him by the federal government.
Delivering a ruling on the application the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako held that Kanu must explain the reason why he breached his previous bail, before he could enjoy another favourable discretion from the court.
The court noted that Kanu’s trial had suffered various setbacks since 2015 owing to over 19 interlocutory applications that have been filed in the matter.
The judge implored the parties to allow the case to proceed on trial to enable the charge to be determined, one way or the other.
Through his team of lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome, the defendant asked the court to release him on bail, pending the determination of the charge against him as stipulated on sections 161, 162, 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
The defendant equally asked the court to order the Department of State Services, DSS, to produce his medical report to justify the reason why he should be granted bail.
In another ruling, Justice Binta dismissed an amended charge filed by the prosecution against the defendant.
The matter has been adjourned till May 26 for further trial.
