Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, may have to spend more time in detention as his bail application was denied by the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice John Tsoho.
The denial came on Friday, dashing the hopes for his temporary release for alleged treasonable offences.
Many of his supporters who had stormed the court to celebrate, left in desolation after learning of the development.
The judge said Kanu could not be granted bail as he remained a major security threat to the country because of his ferocious demand for the Republic of Biafra.
To the judge, releasing Kanu may result in a problem as he could continue with the agitation and threat for which he was first arrested.
The court held that he could also jump bail. Instead of the bail, therefore, the judge, who had fixed Friday to hear the application for Kanu’s bail, approved an accelerated hearing of the case.
Earlier, Kanu’s lawyer, Nnoruka Udechukwu (SAN), prayed for his release with an argument that the offence he allegedly committed was bailable.
The lawyer argued that the right to agitate is inherent in a democracy and that people should not be denied their rights to protest by way of being kept in custody.
However, his argument was opposed by the counsel to the Federal Government, Mohammed Diri.
According to him, the bail application fell short of Section 162 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
He reminded the court that Kanu did not enter the country the right way.
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