BIAFRA: Refusal Of Kanu’s Bail Application By Court Attracts Criticisms

Following the refusal by the Abuja High Court to grant the bail application filed by the leader of Independent People of Biafra, IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, criticisms have continued to trail the court’s ruling from diverse quarters.

Hon. Justice John Tsoho refused the bail stating that Mazi Kanu was a threat to national security, secondly, that if released, he might commit the same offence again and thirdly, that there was a probability that Nnamdi Kanu might jump bail because he possessed dual citizenship.

The group which gathered in Aba in Abia State in solidarity of their detained leader accused the federal of playing politics with the Kanu adding that his continued incarceration would rather aggravate the crises.

The spokesperson of the group, Mazi Uzonna Ekerue called on the federal government to release the detainee since his alleged offences are bailable in law. He added that the right to protest in inherent in all democracies around the world and therefore Nigeria cannot be an exception.

Kalu was arrested by the State Security Service, (DSS) in October 2015 over his doings through his Independent People of Biafra, IPOB initiative, in respect of the sovereign State of Biafra. He was earlier charged on conspiracy and terrorism and later granted bail by the Federal High Court, Abuja but rearrested on other charges.

Consequently, Kalu has since then remained in the custody while applications and rejoinders over his bail by the defense and prosecution counsels respectively have been filed in the court.

The pro-activist’s lawyer vehemently argues in favour of his release exceptionally on account of his fundamental human rights as provided in the 1999 Constitution as well as the African Charter on Human Rights, with reference to the Criminal Justice Act implemented in 2015 which unambiguously guarantees bail for persons charged with non-capital offences.