Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has denied the bail application of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB Nnamdi Kanu.
Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s lead counsel, moved an application for bail.
Ozekhome said: “Until a person is tried and convicted, he should be allowed to walk free.”
He reminded the court that a defendant ought to enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
He begged the court to consider the deteriorating health condition of the defendant.
Ruling on the bail application on Wednesday, the judge held that “the application is premature and refused with liberty to refile and reapply.”
“The absence of the defendant in court after his bail was granted in 2017 must be discussed before another Bail is granted.”
“However, the defendant is at liberty to refile the application”, Justice Nyako held.
Kanu had in the application he filed pursuant to sections 6(6) and 36(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as sections 161, 162, 163 and 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, prayed the court to release him on bail, pending by determination of the charge against him.
He equally prayed the court to order the Department of State Services, DSS, to produce the medical report of the defendant who is currently in its custody.
However, FG, urged the court to refuse the bail application, insisting that Kanu, having realized the gravity of the case against him, would run away from the country and not make himself available for trial.
