IPOB: Why Kanu must be re-arrested – FG

Stories by Vivian Okejeme Abuja Th e federal government has fi led fresh application asking the Federal High Court in Abuja, for immediate revocation of the bail granted to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Aside asking the court to void the bail it gave the IPOB leader on April 25, the federal government further applied for an order “directing the arrest and committing of the 1st defendant to custody pending trial.

In a statement made available by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.  Abubakar Malami, SAN, the government described Kanu as a threat to national security, insisting that he has mortgaged his personal liberty, having engaged in several acts capable of sparking civil unrest and anarchy in the country.

Stories by Vivian Okejeme Abuja Th e application was premised on section 169 and 173(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Kanu is facing treasonable felony charge alongside four other pro-Biafra agitatorsChidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie.

Th e defendants are expected to enter fresh plea to the amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/ CR/383/2015, before trial Justice Binta Nyako, on October 17.

In a fresh application, Malami adduced reasons why Kanu should be arrested before his next trial date.

“Th e 1st Defendant is standing trial for alleged off ences of conspiracy to commit acts of treasonable felony, treasonable felony and other related off ences before this Honourable Court.

“Th at the off ence for which he is standing trial is not ordinarily bailable.

Th at due to the magnanimity of this Honourable court and its quest for justice and fairness he was granted bail on health grounds on 25th April, 2017.

“Th at among other conditions for the bail of the 1st defendant is that he should not be seen in a crowd exceeding 10 people.

And that he should not grant any interviews, hold or attend any rallies.

“And that he should fi le in court medical updates of his health status every month.

Th at rather than observing all of the conditions listed above, the 1st defendant in fl agrant disobedience to the court order fl outed all conditions of the bail.

“Th e fi rst defendant has in furtherance to the off ence he was charged, inaugurated Biafra Security Service.

Th at such an act is a grave threat to national security and unity of the country.

“Th at the grounds mentioned above constitute special circumstances hence this application.

Th at this court has the power to grant this application”, it added.

More so, in a 12- paragraph affi davit deposed to by one Loveme Odubo, a litigation clerk in the Offi ce of the DPP, the government maintained that Kanu had “in fl agrant disobedience to the court order fl outed all conditions given by the court”.

It told the court that Kanu held a rally at his residence in his hometown Afara-UkwuIbeku in Umuahia, Abia State.

“Th at the said rally with a crowd exceeding 10 persons was captured in a video published on the 1st June 2017 and circulated throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond through the internet platform of YouTube; “That the YouTube video was downloaded and is attached to this affidavit and marked NK1.

That a certificate; Identifying the CD ROM containing the video and describing the manner in which it was produced; giving such particular of any device involved in the production of that CD ROM as may be appropriate for the purpose of showing that the CD ROM, was produced by a computer; “It was signed by a person occupying a responsible position in relation to the operation of the relevant device.

That the said rally was not held in a synagogue but at the residence of the 1st defendant on Friday evening May 26th, 2017 and ended on Saturday May 27th, 2017.

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