Pro-Biafran and director of Radio Biafra Nnamdi Kanu's application for bail will be decided on Jan. 29 when Justice John Tsoho failed to appear in court on Jan. 18. Nigerian State prosecutor urges court to dismiss his request to post bail on the ground that he is a flight risk.
Kanu has been brought before the federal high court Maitama in Abuja, Nigeria for hearing. He is facing for six counts of treasonable felony, maintaining an unlawful society and illegal possession of firearms charges, among others, IBTimes UK reported.
Kanu will have to wait for the court's decision on Friday. Meanwhile, he went back to prison after the hearing for bail application has been adjourned. Earlier this year, a new judge appointed for his case Justice John Tsoho ordered his transfer from DSS custody to be transferred to the Nigeria Prison Service in Kuje, Premium Times reported.
"The right to agitate is inherent in a democracy. People must not be denied of their rights to protest by way of being kept in custody," Kanu's lawyer Muoma Udechukwu argued.
Kanu has been initially charged with conspiracy and terrorism charges, which were later dropped. His supporters urged the court for his release, arguing that Administration Criminal Justice Act of 2015 (ACJA) guarantees that defendants charged with non-capital offenses have the right to be granted bail. His lawyer cited sections 158 and 162 of the ACJA arguing the same and added that the offenses for which his client was brought before the court was bailable.
President Muhammadu Buhari said that Kanu would not be granted bail due the alleged atrocities that he has committed, Sun News Online reported. On the other hand, prosecution lawyer Mohammed Diri argued that Kanu is a flight risk. He stressed the fact that Kanu holds both British and Nigerian citizenship.
"He sneaked into this country. He didn't enter the country the proper way. He may sneak out. I urge this court to refuse this application and order for accelerated hearing," he said.
Nanmdi Kanu is a political activist and the leader of separatist organization Indigenous People of Biafra. In October 2015, he was arrested by the State Security Service (DSS) in Lagos.
