OPINION: Nnamdi Kanu’s Bail Condition Is Draconic And A Bobby Trap

From faraway Abuja, I began to receive numerous phone calls in my little abode immediately Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court gave her ruling over the bail application of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

I was not excited because I wanted to get comprehensive details over the ruling, bearing in mind that the Nigeria government has previously disobeyed two court rulings of bail and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu by the magistrate and federal high courts respectively.

I became more suspicious when one “Igbo-Lagosian” and APC politician went to the press to yap as usual and called on the IPOB leader to accept the bail and forget about the clamor for the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra.

Anyway, I ignored the political slave after Reno Omokri responded to him, asking him to go make his noise over Nnamdi Kanu in Onitsha and see if he will survive it. I concurred with Omokri because the attention-seeking fool has spent most of his life in Lagos state and he is ignorant of the desire of his people in Anambra state.

After the euphoria of the bail given to Nnamdi Kanu has fizzled out, I took time to study the draconian bail conditions attached and it clearly revealed that the trial judge, Binta Nyako, has completely gone insane in her desire to satisfy the cabal in the government of Muhammadu Buhari.

The bail terms shows a script of hate, politically motivated and a demeaning of the Nigeria constitution which ought to be respected and protected by the judiciary. Justice Binta Nyako has exposed the Nigeria government desperate desire to continue to illegally imprison the IPOB leader and at the same time claiming to have set him off on bail.

It is well known that the ‘sick and lost” Muhammadu Buhari has been under intense pressure to release Nnamdi Kanu and others because they have not committed any crime. The bail terms and restriction read out by Justice Binta Nyako is a script from the cabal and must not be taken serious.

In her desire to please the Nigeria government, Justice Binta Nyako took away Nnamdi Kanu’s fundmental human right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The trial judge also infringed upon the IPOB leader’s right to freedom of movement, association and peaceful assembly. Nnamdi Kanu’s right to fair hearing and freedom of expression was also discarded by the trial judge.

The draconic bail conditions are as follows: (a) mandatory production of three sureties, including a “highly respected and recognized Jewish leader”, (b) mandatory production of a “highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a Senator”, (c) mandatory production of “a highly respected person who is resident and owns landed property in Abuja”, (d) each of the three sureties is to mandatorily deposit N100 million each.

Other restrictions imposed on Nnamdi Kanu’s bail are barring him from attending any rally or granting any form of press interview and he must not be in a crowd exceeding 10 persons. Nnamdi Kanu is also mandated to sign an undertaking to avail himself for trial at all times as well as to mandatorily surrender his Nigerian and British international passports.

Justice Binta Nyako has trampled on the judiciary by involving religion and ethnicity in her ruling over the bail of Nnamdi Kanu on health grounds. What has his religion and ethnicity got to do with his health? How many Christian and Muslim on trial have been forced to provide a Priest or a Sheik before getting bail? Which of the Boko Haram terrorists on trial have been asked to provide sureties with N100 million cash deposit as bail bond? Recently, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami defended convicted Boko Haram members from execution, claiming the law under which they were tried did not prescribe death sentence. Such hypocrisy!

Nnamdi Kanu is leading the Indigenous People of Biafra in the quest for self-determination in a peaceful manner and it is on record they have never been involved in any form of violence or disorder against the Nigeria government. Rather, the Nigeria security forces have been indicted for extra judicial violence and killings against IPOB. As much as I want the leader of IPOB to be free from detention, I will not subscribe to the acceptance of such wicked bail terms but on a second thought, his health is more important and must be put into reasonable consideration. Barring Nnamdi Kanu from a crowd not exceeding 10 persons is barring him from royal family, religious gathering and from his numerous followers.

What about his team of lawyers who are more than 10 persons? This is a booby trap by the Nigeria government against the people of Biafra in the clamor for the restoration of Biafra.

I will not agree with whomever that will place IPOB at par with the Nigeria government if the bail is rejected because it is a total different scenario, the Nigeria government never appealed any of the court rulings against them but rather flagrantly disobeyed the rulings and re-amending the charges to suit their biddings.

Some have questioned who is to be blamed if anything happens to Nnamdi Kanu’s health if he rejects the bail, the blame will be placed squarely on the Nigeria government because as long as he is in detention, he is their responsibility. The event that occurred in Abuja during the last court sitting should be an eye opener to sane minds of what is to follow if any harm is done to the IPOB leader while in custody of the Nigeria government.

The Nigeria government must show civility by releasing Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally so as to enable him continue the propagation of the desire of his people to restore their fatherland, Biafra.

He must be allowed to seek attention to his health without any restriction.

Self-determination is enshrined in the United Nation universal charter on human right and Nigeria is making a mockery of itself as a signatory to the charter.

Article written by Chima Onyekachi, a pro-Biafran activist

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