John Tsoho, justice of the federal high court, Abuja, on Friday, denied Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of Radio Biafra, bail.

The judge ruled that Kanu was a threat to national security, and as a result would not be granted bail.

He held that if released Kanu might commit the same offence again, and that there was a probability that he might jump bail because he possessed dual citizenship.

He therefore ruled that Kanu be remanded in prison custody, and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.

Tsoho had fixed Friday for ruling on Kanu’s bail application which was argued on Monday.

Arguing for Kanu’s release, Nnoruka Udechukwu, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to release him, stating that the offence he was alleged to have committed was a bailable one.

Udechukwu argued that the Criminal Justice Act, 2015, stipulated bail for anyone not accused of a capital offence.

He said that the offence of which Kanu was accused was a “civil rights” issue, adding that the right to agitate is guaranteed in a democracy.

“The right to agitate is inherent in a democracy. People must not be denied of their rights to protest by way of being kept in custody,” he said.

“If national security was a ground to throw people into detention the Criminal Justice Act would have said so.”

Making his own submission, Mohammed Diri, counsel to the federal government, said he was “seriously opposed to this application.”

He argued that the application did not fulfil certain conditions spelt out in section 162 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Diri said that Kanu might jump bail if released because according to his statement to the Department of State Services (DSS) he is a British citizen.

“He sneaked into this country. He didn’t enter the country the proper way. He may sneak out,” he said.

“I urge this court to refuse this application and order for accelerated hearing.”

Kanu alongside Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi is facing a six-count charge of treasonable felony.

Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown persons now at large in London, United Kingdom, between the year 2014 and September 2015, with intention to levy war against Nigeria in order tto force the president to change his measures of being the president of the federation, head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federation as defined in section 3 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by doing an act wit: Broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored by NBC for your preparations for the states in the southeast geo-political zone, south-south geo-political zone, the Igala community of Kogi and Idoma to secede from the federal republic of Nigeria and form themselves into a republic of Biafra, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 41 (C) of the criminal code act, CAP C38 laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

On December 23, 2015, he had refused to take his plea before Ahmed Mohammed, justice of the federal high court, Abuja, citing lack of confidence in the court.

This was after Adeniyi Ademola, another justice of the federal high court, Abuja, ordered the DSS to release him unconditionally, and after a chief magistrate court discharged and acquitted him of charges of criminal intimidation and management of an unlawful society.

Meanwhile, there was mild drama at the court over legal representation for Kanu.

Kanu had written a letter to the judge, stating that his lawyers were only Chuks Muoma(SAN) and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, excluding Udechukwu, who argued his bail application, and Vincent Obetta, the counsel, who had represented him since the beginning of his trial at the chief magistrate court, Wuse zone 2, Abuja.

In protest, Udechukwu announced that he was standing down, and asked the court to strike out his name as Kanu’s counsel.
But Muoma, in order not to stall the ruling, asked Justice Tsoho to rule on the defendant’s bail application even though Udechukwu, who argued it had pulled out.

The judge thereafter delivered the ruling refusing Kanu bail.


https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-court-denies-nnamdi-kanu-bail

He doesn't deserved a bail. He may end up been executed.

Ouestion is, If Kanu already wrote the judge on who his lawyers are, why did the judge allow the unconfirmed lawyer, Mr Udechukwu to stand in for Kanu since he's aware of who represents him?

Nnamdi Kanu has entered one chance. He called Nigeria a zoo and even solicited for arms to fight the country. You don't grant bail to traitors and secessionists. The penalty for treason is death by hanging or life imprisonment.

spanishkid:
Nnamdi Kanu has entered one chance. He called Nigeria a zoo and even solicited for arms to fight the country. You don't grant bail to traitors and secessionists. The penalty for treason is death by hanging or life imprisonment. Nnamdi Kanu must die.

Abi?


Lalasticlala, obinoscopy

Good

this mata don dey serious o. y another lawyer come dey represent am again.



Youths in southeast should take advantage of this offer. check my signature

Stewpid fool is being shown that he is the animal finding a zoo to leave in.

Oya send the weasel back. Poor pdp their Biafra excuse for corruption js being unraveled.

chikeFavor2000:
this mata don dey serious o. y another lawyer come dey represent am again.




Youths in southeast should take advantage of this offer. check my signature

Cos he is a betrayal therefore he didn't trust anyone

From wath the judge said, he is already biased. Kanu may not be given a fair judgement.

Where are the IPOBians that led Kanu to this? They cheered the man while he was acting foolishly. Kanu's situation should be a lesson to everyone. We must always shun bad counsel.


As for Kanu, his offence is treasonable and carries capital punishment if/when found guilty

Nnamdi Kanu see what you brought upon yourself

What I know is that two wrongs doesn't make it right.

THE LAWYER IS BIASED...
AND WHY WOULD THEY CHOOSE SOM1 FROM NORTH TO JUDGE D CASE?

THING LIKE DIZ HAPPENS ONLY IN NIGERIA.

The quest for nationhood is never a foolish idea as being portrayed by some minions.

Just like human right self-determination is an inalienable right of a people.

The government has no credible evidence of treasonable felony against Kanu. The arrest and subsequent detention of Kanu has taken the struggle to international level.

The government and its agents are yet to come to terms how a man can influence tens of millions of people without money. Even in detention his popularity and that of the struggle soar high.

The government and its paid agents can sway the case as they wish. The media trials can continue but Kanu as a person is determined to pay the ultimate price if need be. Which ever way the case is turned victory is sure for Kanu and his quest. Evil wishes of foes cannot deny him victory at last.

[s]

TonyeBarcanista:
Where are the IPOBians that led Kanu to this? They cheered the man while he was acting foolishly. Kanu's situation should be a lesson to everyone. We must always shun bad counsel.


As for Kanu, his offence is treasonable and carries capital punishment if/when found guilty

[/s]



this is how and low you've sunk in the quest of attention.
isn't obvious that you're getting none nowadays.
you're no longer trusted in pdp
and you're no longer trusted in apc too
you're now sitting on the fence and you know it.
mr man you're dead on nairaland and all social media
you could not break through on twitter
so was Facebook
the only means of recognition which is nairaland is gone and you think chanting IPOB till now to tomorrow will revive your dirty reputation Nope even the word itself is already stale so what else are you clinching on?
mr man you're nothing but a double faced man, a man that cannot be held responsible for his words, a man with questionable integrity and moral such a man does not deserve to have balls talk more of becoming a man.

Just like pataki blasted you, you're nothing but a feather weight analyst who's worth nothing.

you ruined yourself by yourself so go and cry for yourself because just like cramjones everybody is already tired of your matter

engrflames:
He doesn't deserved a bail. He may end up been executed.

Yoruba as expected wishing death on us. SS and SE pay attention.

TonyeBarcanista:
Where are the IPOBians that led Kanu to this? They cheered the man while he was acting foolishly. Kanu's situation should be a lesson to everyone. We must always shun bad counsel.


As for Kanu, his offence is treasonable and carries capital punishment if/when found guilty

This shameless yoruba man pretending to be from SS.

new2020:


This shameless yoruba man pretending to be from SS.

Nope he's a shameless ijaw boy from Okrika

like cramjones like TonyeBarcanista

[s]

OrlandoOwoh:

How you dey?

[/s]
shatap

TonyeBarcanista:
Where are the IPOBians that led Kanu to this? They cheered the man while he was acting foolishly. Kanu's situation should be a lesson to everyone. We must always shun bad counsel.


As for Kanu, his offence is treasonable and carries capital punishment if/when found guilty

It is better to die for an idea that will live than to live for an idea that will die. Bet me, Kanu's death will quicken the disintegration of the zoo.