By Adadareporters
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has urged the Federal High Court to restore the bail granted him earlier.
According to Kanu, contrary to the ruling that led to his bail revocation, there was never a time he jumped bail.
It would be recalled that on April 25, 2017, the Abuja Federal High Court had granted the IPOB leader bail. It was however revoked and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on the ground that he jumped bail.
Kanu denied jumping bail, adding that he left Nigeria when security agents invaded his Afaraukwu countryhome in Abia State.
Barr Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lead counsel, filed a motion of notice, FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, before the Abuja Federal High Court, demanding that the bail revocation be set aside over misrepresentation.
The Motion on Notice reads, “On 25 April 2017, the applicant was admitted to bail by this Honourable Court. The applicant was enjoying his bail when he came under attack by agents of the complainant at his home at Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North LGA, Abia State, whereupon the applicant fled from Nigeria in what was purely an act of self-preservation.
“The bail of the applicant was revoked by this Honourable Court and a bench warrant issued against him upon the application of the complainant made to this Honorable Court that the applicant had jumped bail.
“The applicant was, pursuant to said bench warrant, subsequently kidnapped in Kenya by agents of the complainant and was brought to Nigeria by way of extraordinary rendition.
“The jurisdiction of this Honourable Court to try the defendant, as well as issues pertaining to his bail and extraordinary rendition, were challenged up to the Supreme Court in SC/CR/1361/2022: BETWEEN FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V. NNAMDI KANU, where their Lordships made a determined that the applicant’s bail ought not to have been revoked in the first place, being that it was the invasion of the applicant’s home that caused him to flee in order to secure his life and physical well-being.
“The order setting aside the applicant’s bail, the warrant of arrest and the forfeiture of his bail bond ought to be reversed by virtue of the decision of the Supreme Court. The bail of the applicant ought to be restored in the interest of justice.”
Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Kanu’s younger brother, deposed to the affidavit in support of the motion for Kanu’s bail restoration.
