The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of London based radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has once again violated the conditions of the bail granted to him by a federal high court sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Kanu, a political activist based in United Kingdom and Director of London based Radio Biafra, was arrested in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on October 14, 2015, by the Department of States Services (DSS) on conspiracy and terrorism charges that were later changed to treason.
On December 17, 2015, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, granted unconditional bail to Nnamdi Kanu.
In his ruling, Justice Ademola held that the continued detention of the IPOB leader after two months without trial violates Section 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Ademola’s ruling came after a Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja had discharged Mr. Kanu following the withdrawal of the charges leveled against him by the Department of States Services (DSS).
With the court ruling, Kanu’s attorney then, Vincent Obeffa expressed optimism that the accused would be freed as he said the accused had no criminal cases against him in Nigeria or anywhere in the world and as such, he was a free man.
There was wide jubilation in the South South and South East popularly called Biafra land by pro-Biafra activists before President Buhari ended the jubilation with his statement during his first and only media chat on December 30, 2015 since assuming office in May that same year.
During the media chat, President Muhammadu Buhari maintained that Kanu would not be released.
Referring to the IPOB leader, the President said: “And the one you are calling Kanu, do you know he had two passports, one Nigerian, one British, and he came into the country without any. Do you know he brought an equipment into this country and was broadcasting, Radio Biafra; which kind of government do you think should harbor that kind of person? There is a treasonable felony against him and I hope the court will listen to the case”.
Speaking on Biafra, Buhari said: ” “We will not allow anyone create a state within the Nigerian state”.
After President Buhari’s comment in December 2015 during his media chat, Kanu was denied bail later in January 2016.
However, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, granted bail to the IPOB leader.
Kanu who described himself as the ‘Lion of Biafra’, was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako on health grounds and ordered not to grant press interviews and avoid being seen in a crowd of more than 10 people.
The IPOB leader was freed after meeting the bail conditions given to him by Justice Binta Nyako of an Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
Kanu perfected the bail after the South East Senate caucus and former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu signed the bail bond.
Surprisingly, two months after the IPOB leader was freed, he has not only addressed hundreds of his supporters but has also granted media interviews.
Last month, addressing the members of the Jewish Synagogue at his residence in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia in Abia state, Southeast Nigeria , Kanu declared that the coming of the Republic of Biafra was imminent.
Similarly, Kanu told Al Jazeera that he was not bothered about landing in trouble over his actions.
In a twelve minute, twenty five seconds video posted on Facebook by Biafra TV, Kanu was seen walking in the midst of hundreds of his supporters.
The IPOB leader was seen in the video exchanging pleasantries and shook hands with the people who had memorabilia of Biafra all over them.
Watch video below:……………………………
