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Justice Binta Nyarko of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday told the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, that prison is the safest place for him.
Justice Nyarko was reacting to the application filed by Kanu’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who prayed the court to restore the IPOB leader’s bail so that he could face his trial.
Ejiofor had told the court that Kanu was ready to face trial if his safety would be guaranteed by the court, adding that the application to restore his bail was filed on April 1.
“We have an application for bail filed on April 1, 2019, the application was served on the prosecution and it is ripe for hearing.
“We urge the court to restore his bail on the grounds that the court will guarantee his safety when he comes back to the country to continue his trial,” he said.
But counsel to the Federal Government, Labaran Shuaibu, who told the court that he was just seeing the process, opposed the application.
Shuaibu urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable them file the necessary processes.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Nyako, who adjourned the matter till January 16, 2020, said the only way he could guarantee Kanu’s safety was to keep him in the prison, saying that even judges are no longer safe in the country.
“Even judges are being abducted in the country. So prison is the safest place for him,” she said.
Justice Nyarko had ordered the re-arrest of the IPOB leader after revoking the bail granted to him.
She stated that the court gave the order because Kanu had failed to appear in court after his bail was granted in April 2017.
The judge said trial would continue in Kanu’s absence and directed that a bench warrant be issued for his arrest.
Recall that Justice Nyarko had granted Kanu bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017 and asked him to present three sureties, one of whom must be a serving senator, a Jewish religious leader and a highly respected person who must own a landed property in Abuja.
The judge had also warned the IPOB leader against granting press interviews, holding rallies or being in a gathering of more than 10 persons while on bail, adding that the bail would be revoked if he flouted any of the conditions.