Biafra: Judge Denies Nnamdi Kanu Bail, Says He’s A Threat To National Security

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOP), Nnamdi Kanu was on Friday, January 29, 2016 was denied bail by a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.

The presiding judge, Justice John Tosho denied Kanu’s application on the grounds that he was a threat to national security and there was a high possibility of Kanu committing the same offence and also jumping bail, owing to his dual citizenship. He ordered that Kanu be remanded in prison custody but ordered an accelerated hearing of his case.

Meanwhile, there was drama in court earlier as Kanu, who is being accused of treason, asked his lead counsel, M. Udechukwu, to step down for another lawyer, Chucks Muoma. Kanu wrote to the court, asking for a change in his representation. Justice Tsoho read the letter which said that the former lead counsel had represented him in previous sittings against his instruction.

Udechukwu announced to the court that he had been informed of the letter, while declaring his intention to immediately stand down for Muoma to continue the case.

However, Muoma expressed surprise that Udechukwu raised the issue so early, stressing that he had informed him that in spite of the letter to the effect, he had urged him to first complete the bail application he was handling, before withdrawing from the case.

But Udechukwu insisted on handing over the case to Muoma, noting that the letter said he had impersonated the lead counsel at previous hearings. The former lawyer maintained that impersonation could affect his legal profession of almost 20 years, and as such, urged to the court to record his apology for the said offence and also to note that he was withdrawing from the case.

The judge responded, by saying that the issue should be resolved by the counsels, while requesting for the name of the counsel that would represent Kanu. The new lawyer, Muoma told the court that he and Ejiofor would take the place of the defendant’s counsel.