Stephen Ukandu, News & Features Editor
A fresh application by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was Tuesday, dismissed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The application was dismissed pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge slammed against the IPOB Leader by the Federal Government.
Kanu was arrested in Kenya and renditioned back to Nigeria in June 2021, and has since then remained in custody at the Department of State Services, DSS.
The pro-Biafra activist who is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his legal team led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, equally challenge the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him.
Kanu had urged the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.
He insisted that he never jumped bail contrary to allegations by the Federal Government.
Kanu maintained that he never jumped bail but only fled for his life following the invasion of his Afaraukwu Umuahia country home by soldiers.
According to him, no fewer than 28 persons died in his compound during the raid.
Arguing that he was denied fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu, attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed to from Israel after he fled from the country.
But dismissing the bail request, trial Justice Binta Nyako, said she was not satisfied with the reason the IPOB leader gave for his failure to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
The trial judge noted that from records of the court, Kanu, was represented by his lawyer on the day his bail was revoked, likewise his sureties.
“In fact, the sureties told the court that they did not know the whereabout of the Defendant and even applied to be discharged from the matter.
“Therefore, the Defendant was not denied fair hearing.”
Justice Nyako held that though a court could vacate a previous order when confronted with a cogent and verifiable reason, “in the instant case, I have not been given any, neither have I been given any reason to set-aside the order.
“The present application amounts to an abuse of court process for attempting to relitigate an issue already decided by the court.
“If the Defendant is dissatisfied, he has the Appeal Court to go to.
“This application is accordingly dismissed,” Justice Nyako held.
In his reaction, Special Council to Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, expressed dissatisfaction that the Court dismissed the fresh bail application.
Ejimakor who took to his Twitter handle tweeted: “June 28 Update: Sadly, the Judge has denied bail to #MNK on grounds that “for 4 years, nothing was filed” in her court to explain why Onyendu did not attend his trial. She said she is open to considering a new application for bail & she granted a stay of the criminal proceedings.”
