A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a fresh application by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking his bail over the treasonable felony trial.
Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday said she was not satisfied with Kanu’s reasons for the fresh application as his previous bail had been revoked after he absconded and his lawyers and sureties said they did not know his whereabouts.
The judge maintained that Kanu was not denied a fair hearing, adding that a court could vacate a previous order when confronted with a cogent and verifiable reason.
The judge asked Kanu to either appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal.
“The present application amounts to an abuse of court process for attempting to relitigate an issue already decided by the court.
“This application is accordingly dismissed.”
The court had on May 18 refused a similar application seeking the bail of Kanu after the court insisted that he had not explained why he breached the first in 2017.
However, Kanu’s lawyers had informed the court that he jumped bail in September 2017 after soldiers of the Operation Python Dance attacked his residence at Afaraukwu-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, killing 28 persons
Counsel to Kanu, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had pleaded with the court to revisit the revocation of his bail and the order to try him in absentia.
Kanu had in the application he filed under 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, asked the court to release him on bail, pending by determination of the charge against him.
The defendant is facing seven-count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
The case has been fixed for November 14 for mention.
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