Biafra leader handcuffed to court, bail to be decided on Friday

dimeji akinloye

January 25, 2016 7:17 PM

He said Kanu's offence borders on civil right issues, noting that the right to agitate is guaranteed in a democracy.

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was today, Jan. 25, brought to court in handcuffs for his bail hearing.

A Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the ruling till January 29, 2016.

Kanu is facing a six-count charge bordering on allegations of treasonable felony, maintaining an unlawful society and illegal possession of firearms, among others.

Citing sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Kanu's lawyer Vincent Obeta argued that the sections contain his client’s statutory right to bail since he was not charged for a capital offence.

READ:Court sends Nnamdi Kanu to Kuje Prison

In a counter argument, the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Diri, insisted that the application did not meet the conditions stipulated in section 162 of the ACJA.

He urged the court to deny the bail application and accelerate hearing into the matter, stating that Kanu may escape if he is released on bail. He added that the Biafra agitator has dual citizenship.

Following the arguments from both counsels, Justice John Tsoho, said the application would be decided on Friday.

According to report, Kanu and his supporter engaged in an argument with prison officials shortly after the seession.

Justice Tsoho on January 20, had ordered that Kanu be remanded in Kuje prison pending hearing on his bail application.

dimeji akinloye