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Kanu’s bid to regain freedom suffers more setbacks

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BIAFRA: Kanu meets bail condition as Jewish Priest, Sen. Abaribe sign bail bond

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, Wednesday, dismissed an appeal brought by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Director, Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

It would be recalled that Kanu and two other pro-Biafra agitators, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu, had gone before the court to challenge what they called strange procedure” adopted in their trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a unanimous judgment on Wednesday, the three-man panel of Justices of the appellate court led by Justice Abdul Aboki, dismissed the defendants’ appeal as “grossly lacking in merit”.

The court also declined to order the release of the defendants on bail on the premise that allegations against them are “grievous and serious”.

Justice Aboki, while reading the lead judgment, said it was not in doubt that the 1st defendant, Kanu, has dual citizenship.

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According to him, Kanu’s possession of both Nigerian and British passports increased the likelihood that he could jump bail if released from detention.

Ruling on the procedure adopted by the trial court, the appeal court panel maintained that Justice Tsoho had the discretion to decide how the proceeding should be conducted.

“The lower court has the power to exercise its discretion on the matter and the exercise of such discretion by the trial judge did not amount to denial of fair hearing to the defendants.

“The issues are resolved against the appellants. Ruling of the trial court is hereby upheld”, the appellate court held.

Kanu and the two others are standing on a six-count treason charge.

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