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The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has appealed to the Federal High Court to restore the bail granted him earlier.
He clarified that he had not violated his bail conditions by fleeing, as the court had previously ruled.
The Eastern Updates recalls that on April 25, 2017, the Abuja Federal High Court had granted the IPOB leader bail but it was later revoked and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on the ground that he jumped bail.
He, however, denied jumping bail, stressing that he left Nigeria when security agents invaded his country home of Afaraukwu in Abia State.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had filed a motion of notice, FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, before the Abuja Federal High Court, praying that the bail revocation should be set aside over misrepresentation.
The Motion on Notice reads partly: “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“The bail of the Applicant was revoked by this Honourable Court and a bench warrant issued against him upon the application of the Complainant made to this Honorable Court that the Applicant had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.
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“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REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA V. NNAMDI KANU, where their Lordships made a determined that the applicant’s bail ought not to have been revoked in the first place, being that it was the invasion of the applicant’s home that caused him to flee in order to secure his life and physical well-being.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.”
Brother to the IPOB’s leader, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, deposed to an affidavit in support of the motion for Kanu’s bail restoration.
