The Federal High Court, Abuja has denied Pro-Biafra agitator and the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu bail. Kanu is being tried along with three others on allegations bordering on treasonable felony.
The three accomplices are Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
They were all denied bail by trial Justice Binta Nyako.
Armed members of Department of State Service, DSS, took the defendants away from the court premises after the case was adjourned till Dec. 13 for accelerated hearing.
Justice Binta refused to grant bail to any of the defendants pending the determination of the 11-count criminal charge the Federal Government preferred against them.
Charges against the accused persons border on treasonable felony and their alleged involvement in acts of terrorism.
The defendants had in the course of the proceeding alleged plot by the Federal Government to import foreigners to testify against Kanu.
The defendants contended that charges against them were not only bailable offences, but also not felony punishable with death.
The defendants expressed their readiness to produce reasonable sureties before the court.
However, the prosecution opposed the release of any of the defendants on bail.
The prosecutor, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the defendants would constitute “a threat to national security”, once freed from prison custody.
Labaran, who further applied to the court for protection of witnesses billed to testify against the defendants, drew attention of the court to the fact that the 1st defendant, Kanu, has dual citizenship.
He argued that Kanu, who he said has both Nigerian and British passports, would escape out of the country if released on bail.
While praying the court to allow the defendants to attend their trial from Kuje prison, he stressed that Onwudiwe was a major threat, saying he was the only one facing a particular count of “preparatory to commit an act of terrorism”.
Meanwhile, in her ruling, Justice Nyako, held that charge against the defendants “are very serious in nature”, and therefore not ordinarily bailable.
“Irrespective of what the charge is, the court has to exercise its discretion one way or the other”.
Justice Nyako added that some of the charges against the defendants could attract life imprisonment if proved.
Justice Nyako fixed December 13 to rule on prosecution’s application.
