For Family Writers
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has rejected the controversial and stringent bail granted to him by a federal high court sitting in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
The highly revered IPOB leader while entertaining questions from a Family Writers correspondent, Okonkwo Isaac Somto, shortly after the conclusion of the court proceedings on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, had vowed that despite the bail granted to him by the Justice Binta Nyako presided high court, he would rather remain in Kuje Prison than abandon his subjects(Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawusi and Chidiebere Onwudiwe) who were arrested because of him.
“I came with my men and I am leaving with them,” Nnamdi Kanu stated.
The Judge handling the high profile trial of Nnamdi Kanu and his co-defendants had ruled on April 25, 2017 that secret trial would continue and that witnesses would be allowed to wear mask. She however made known that she will grant only Nnamdi Kanu bail subject to mandatory conditions attached to it.
On the ruling on the application for bail of the defendants, she insisted that she is more concerned about the weight of treasonable felon charges hanging over their head. As a result, the judge refused the bail of the first and second defendants.
The judge stated that the reasons for granting Nnamdi Kanu bail is because of health issues, and also because the facilities at Kuje prison are not equipped enough to treat him.
She however listed the conditions attached to the bail release of Nnamdi Kanu, which includes;
– That He(Nnamdi Kanu) must not attend any rally or be in a public place with more than 10 people around him.
– He must submit his British and international passports.
– He must not grant interviews to any media outlet.
– He must provide any landed property in Abuja.
-He must provide a sureties, ranging from a senator or a religion leader or a highly respected person.
– The sureties must provide One hundred million Naira each.
The judge afterwards fixed 11th and 12th of July as date for continuation of the trial.
Meanwhile, the entirety of Biafraland were encapsulated in wild jubilation following the bail granted to the Biafra leader. Several roads and streets in Igweocha(Portharcourt), Aba, Onitsha and other major cities in Biafraland were filled with joyous Biafrans who waved Biafra flags amid songs of victory for Nnamdi Kanu.
The atmosphere at the premises of the federal high court was nothing short of indescribably magnificent, as thousands of Biafrans(including men, women and children) defied all frustrations from Nigeria security agents and flooded the premises of the federal high court Abuja in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu.
However in Enugu, scores of Biafrans who were celebrating the court ruling granting Nnamdi Kanu bail were arrested and whisked away by agents of the Nigeria Police Force, and are currently being detained at Nike lake Police station Abakpa Enugu.
Another reliable information has it that Mr.Theophilous Nnadiekwe was also arrested in Orlu,Owerri Biafra land while he was celebrating the bail granted to Nnamdi Kanu. The Orlu zonal financial secretary is presently being detained at Orlu police station.