A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declined to grant bail to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako held 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 the court.
Justice Nyako noted that Kanu’s trial had since 2015, suffered various setbacks owing to over 19 interlocutory applications that have been filed in the matter.
It, therefore advised the parties to allow the case to proceed on trial to enable the charge to be determined, one way or the other.
Kanu had filed an application pursuant to sections 6(6) and 36(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as sections 161, 162, 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, prayed the court to release him on bail, pending the determination of the charge against him.
However, the Federal Government urged the court to refuse the bail application, insisting that Kanu, having realized the gravity of the case against him, would run away from the country and not make himself available for trial.
RN