NNAMDI KANU: Court orders Abaribe, 2 others to pay N100m in 2 months

The three sureties to the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, have been given two months to pay the sum of N100m each for inability to produce the missing Biafra separatist in court.

The order was given by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to the sureties, including Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, Femi Fani-Kayode and Emmanuel Shallom Ben.

Kanu is currently being prosecuted on charges of treasonable felony before the court.

Justice Nyako also amended the conditions of the bail the court granted Kanu in April 2017.

Kanu might have been considered a fugitive following his disappearance after a military invasion of his residence in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, in Abia state, on September 14, 2017.

The Nigerian army subsequently carried out a military operation code-named, “Egwu Eke (Operation Python Dance 2)” to quell what was described as growing threat to security by pro-Biafra agitators, especially IPOB members in the zone.

The IPOB leader was reportedly sighted in Israel after a video of him at Wailing Wall recently went viral.

Read also: ‘Your govt more reckless with borrowing,’ Jonathan hits back at Osinbajo

The three sureties who guaranteed his bail had been made to sign a bail bond of N100m each which was backed by their landed assets whose documents were deposited in court.

But with the amendment ordered by the court on Wednesday, they are now required to deposit cash of N100m in the bank account of the court.

Justice Nyako ruled that the three sureties had two months to pay the sum of N100m each into the court’s account.

The judge reiterated that the order directing the sureties to pay the money was an order of interim forfeiture.

March 28 has been fixed for the hearing of the motions filed by the sureties to challenge the duties imposed on them to produce the IPOB leader.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now