The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has been released from Kuje Prison on Friday after perfecting his supposedly tough ba
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has been released from Kuje Prison on Friday after perfecting his supposedly tough bail conditions. Kanu was brought from Kuje Prison to the Federal High Court Abuja to sign the necessary bail papers. The process, which took about 10 minutes saw Kanu emerging with smiles from the court in company of his sureties and relatives.
Earlier, his lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, his three sureties, the Chairman, South East Senate caucus, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu signed his bail bond.
Justice Binta Nyako had on Tuesday 25 April, admitted Kanu to bail on health grounds. Nyako, in her ruling said that one of the sureties must be a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction, such as a senator. He was also to produce a highly respected and recognised Jewish leader and a highly respected person, who is resident and owns landed property in Abuja. Nyako ruled that each of the sureties would deposit N100 million each. In addition to the bail conditions, Kanu was barred from attending any rally or granting any form of interview.
Kanu who was standing trial on allegations of treasonable felony along with three others, has been in detention since October 2015. Until his arrest in Lagos, he was the director of UK-based radio station, Radio Biafra. He was charged with criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to an unlawful society.
Kanu’s father, His Royal Highness, Eze Israel Kanu and his wife, Ugoeze Sally Kanu, had initially rejected the bail conditions, saying their son should be released unconditionally. But apprehensions that the bail conditions were insurmountable were extinguished by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), who said all the conditions had been met.
“I came to the Federal High Court to sign the bail bond for Nnamdi Kanu according to the conditions given by Justice Nyako for his bail, part of which was that a senator will sign for him,” Abaribe said.
Shortly after his bail conditions were met, Osita Chidoka, a former minister of Aviation and Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) drove him out of Kuje prison.
The bail conditions are:
— Mr. Kanu must not hold rallies.
— He must not grant interviews.
— He must not be in a crowd of more than 10 people.
— He must provide three sureties in the sum of N100 million each.
— One of the sureties must be a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a senator.
— The second surety must be a highly respected Jewish leader since Mr. Kanu said his religion is Judaism
— The third surety must be a highly respected person who owns landed property and is resident in Abuja
— The IPOB leader must deposit his Nigerian passport
— He must also deposit his British passport with the court
— He must provide the court with reports on the progress of his health and treatment on a monthly basis.
— The order for him to deposit his Nigerian and British passports also mean he cannot travel out of the country.
