Kanu denied bail, gets accelerated hearing

The hope of the Director of Radio Biafra and leader of Indeginous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to enjoy temporary freedom was dashed on Friday, as a Federal High Court in Abuja denied him and his co-accused bail, opting to give them accelerated hearing.

Kanu and two other accused persons are standing trial on charges of treason over their agitation for the creation of the Republic of Biafra.

At the resume hearing of their case on Friday, ‎Justice John Tsoho, while ruling on their bail applications, held that the accused persons were not entitled to bail because they could not convince the court that they would not continue to commit the alleged crime for which they were being prosecuted.

Fualting the argument of the defence, the judge held that the charges were not trumped up ones and that the accused persons, through counter affidavit had only succeeded in saying that the agitation for the creation of the Republic of Biafra is their birthright.

The judge further ruled that since Kanu had admitted to being a dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain, the likelihood of jumping bail was high.

The judge, while denying the bail application, said he would order an accelerated hearing, even if it is on daily basis.

Justice Tsoho, who adjourned the case to February 9,10,11 and 12, ordered that Kanu and his co-accused persons remain in Kuje prison throughout their trial.

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