Prosecution Opposes Nnamdi Kanu’s Fresh Bail Request, Calls it “Frivolous and Vexatious”

*As Court Warns of Postponing Kanu’s Case Sine Die Over Delays

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One of the conditions, according to Ejimakor, was that the bail earlier granted him, but which was revoked when he jumped bail, should be restored to enable him to prepare for his defence.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.

Meanwhile, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to adjourn indefinitely the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu should he insist on further delaying the commencement of the trial.

Earlier today, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor had stated some conditions to be met by the court for his client to submit to trial.

Some of the conditions were that the bail earlier granted him should be restored; he should be relocated from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and he should be allowed free access to his lawyers to enable him to prepare for his trial.

The prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) objected to Ejimakor’s requests, describing them as frivolous vexatious irritating, and unmeritorious.

Justice Nyako fixed the ruling on the requests by Kanu’s lawyer for May 20 but insisted that progress must be made in the case on Wednesday by allowing the prosecution to open its case by calling witnesses.

The judge said: “It is either we open this trial today by prosecution calling witnesses or I adjourn this matter indefinitely till the time you are ready for trial.

“You cannot continue to hold the court to ransom. I hope you know the consequences of adjourning the trial sine die. You have to make a choice and the choice has to be for you.

“I will rise for some minutes for you to think about this and make a choice and that choice has to be made today”, Justice Nyako said shortly before standing down proceedings.

Kanu, members of his legal team, and some relatives in court are currently meeting on what option to take.