Biafra: Court Orders Senator Abaribe, Other Sureties to Produce Kanu

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, October 17th, 2017

By Ganiyu Nasirudeen

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe and two other sureties for the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to tell the court his whereabouts.

Messrs Emmanuel Shalum Okabenmabu and Tochukwu Uchendu are the two other sureties to Kanu. They were however absent from court and did not send their Lawyers.

‎Amidst protest, Kanu was granted a conditional bail on April 24, 2017, while trial was billed to commence Tuesday, October 17, 2017.

The Tuesday’s order by Justice Binta Nyako followed Kanu’s non-appearance in court when the case was called. However, the three co-defendants who are still being held appeared before the court.

Despite the order, Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told Justice Nyako that Kanu had been missing after soldiers allegedly invaded his home‎ in Umuahia, the Abia State capital on September 14, 2017. He defended that the Nigerian Army was in the best position to explain Kanu’s present location.

However, Counsel to Senator, Abaribe Mr. Ogechi Ogunna, informed the court that his client had filed a motion seeking to be discharged as Kanu’s surety.

‎Justice Nyako declined prayer to hear Abaribe’s motion, insisting that would happen until the accused is produced before the court.

The Judge gave options which included: either Senator Abaribe to produce the accused in court and then apply to be discharged as a surety or he forfeits his N100m bail bond.

The third option ‎was for the Abia State Lawmaker to request to be given time to produce Kanu in court.

Mr. Ogunna told the court that his client could not oblige any of the options.

Meanwhile, Justice Nyako has adjourned trial November 20, 2017.

It would be recalled that Kanu and his suspected accomplices were rested in a Lagos in October 2015, for operating a radio station without approval and for running illegal organization. All the conditions including non granting of press interview attached to Kanu’s bail condition have since been flouted by him.