IPOB Trial: Court Grants Bail To Nnamdi Kanu’s Deputies

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted bail to four defendants currently facing trial alongside leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The defendants, identified as IPOB members, are Benjamin Madubugwu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, National Coordinator of IPOB; Bright Chimeze, and David Nwawuisi.

The trio, standing trial on three-count charge bothering on treasonable felony, are being tried alongside Kanu for alleged treason, but his absence in previous court sittings had prompted the Federal Government to file separate charges against them.

At the court’s resumed sitting on Monday, the presiding judge, Binta Nyako, acceded to a bail application filed on behalf on their clients by the defence counsel on grounds of ill-health and prolonged stay in detention.

Justice Nyako granted each of them bail of N10 million and ordered them to produce two sureties in like sum.

She also barred them from granting any press interview or appearing in a public gathering, similar to the conditions given to Kanu when he was granted bail last year.

In May 2017, Chimezie was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Uyo but has remained in the Department of State Service (DSS)’s custody since then.

Condemning his continued detention, Justice Nyako that the four defendants had spent an average of three years in custody when the penalty for their alleged offences ranges from five to seven years.

She however said that as part of their bail conditions, they are to report to the Commissioner of Police in their respective states every two weeks.

It is the same Justice Nyako that granted Kanu bail in April last year.