FG rejects Kanu’s request for house arrest

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, fixed May 20 to decide on separate applications praying for the restoration of the bail granted to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The court, on the said date, will also consider the application that the IPOB leader be transferred to another facility from the custody of the Department of State Services.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had on April 25, 2017,  released Kanu on bail on health grounds.

Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges, however, fled the country after the military invaded his residence.

Following his re-arrest in Kenya on June 19, 2021 and repatriation to Nigeria, he has  since been remanded in DSS custody.

His subsequent prayer for fresh bail was rejected by Justice Nyako on March 19, 2024.

Rather, the judge promised an accelerated hearing of the case while adjourning till Wednesday.

At the resumed hearing on  Wednesday, Kanu’s counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, moved two applications, one of which prayed the court to order the transfer of Kanu from the DSS custody.

The legal team had earlier raised the alarm, alleging that the DSS was denying them access to Kanu and that they could, therefore, not prepare him for his trial.

They threatened to boycott the trial if the situation did not change.

Ejimakor, on Wednesday, argued that Kanu’s continued detention in the DSS custody would frustrate the trial.

Ejimakor said, “We seek the transfer of the defendant from the DSS detention to a house arrest or other similar places of custody or similar law enforcement agency’s custody.

“It is important to do so, My Lord. The application did not arrive in a vacuum. We made it orally and were directed to put it into writing. We are offering solutions to assist with accelerated hearings ordered by the court.

“It is not strange to have a defendant detained in a house arrest. Sambo Dasuki and Ibrahim El-Zakzaky have enjoyed these in the past.” Punch