The prosecution in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has faulted his fresh request for bail.
Kanu is being tried for offences bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
On Wednesday, April 17, prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) urged the court to reject Kanu’s request which was part of the conditions set by the defendant for him to submit to the acceleration of the hearing of the case.
Awomolo described the conditions as frivolous, vexatious, irritating, and baseless.
He recalled that the trial court had earlier rejected a similar bail request by Kanu, adding that granting the defendant’s fresh bail request amounts to the court overruling itself.
Awomolo contended that the only option opened to Kanu was for him to approach the Court of Appeal to challenge the rejection of his earlier bail request.
Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor had listed three conditions that must be met before the defence could submit to the resumption of the trial.
One of the conditions, according to Ejimakor, was that the bail earlier granted him, but which was revoked when he jumped bail, should be restored to enable him to prepare for his defence.
Ejimakor claimed that the bail was erroneously revoked based on a false and fraudulent claim of the federal government.
The defence lawyer also requested that the arrest warrant issued against Kanu, when he filed the country, should be set aside because, according to him, it was erroneously issued based on allegations by the government that he (Kanu) had jumped bail and escaped out of the country.
He also requested that Kanu’s lawyers should be permitted to have unhindered access to him as required by law. (Nation)
