Nnamdi Kanu’s Counsel Aims for Bail on Merit in Terrorism Trial on March 19

In the ongoing legal saga of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), his principal attorney, Aloy Ejimakor, has expressed optimism about Kanu’s potential release at the forthcoming court session on March 19, 2024.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, has set this date to decide on Kanu’s bail application.

During the hearing, Ejimakor argued for Kanu’s bail, citing the need for his client to have unrestricted access to his legal team in order to mount a robust defense. Kanu’s health issues, including acute hypertension and acute heart disease, were also mentioned as reasons for granting bail.

However, the counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, opposed the application, stating that Kanu had previously been granted bail but had absconded and left the country.

Despite the opposition, Ejimakor remains hopeful that Kanu will make bail on the merits of his application. Kanu was initially arrested in Lagos on October 14, 2015, and has been in detention since his re-arrest on June 29, 2021, following an extraordinary rendition from Kenya.

In April 2017, Kanu was granted bail on health grounds by Justice Nyako. However, after a military raid on his residence in Umuahia, Abia State, resulted in fatalities among his followers, Kanu fled Nigeria.

The pro-Biafra advocate’s legal journey took a significant turn when the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal ordered his release on October 13, 2022, citing a breach of legal procedures in his forceful extradition.

The Federal Government’s dissatisfaction with this ruling led to an appeal to the Supreme Court, which, on December 15, 2023, overturned the appellate court’s decision, allowing the trial to proceed.

As the March 19 court date approaches, the legal battle for Nnamdi Kanu’s release continues, with his counsel and supporters hoping for a positive outcome.

The case remains a topic of significant interest and debate in Nigeria and around the world, as it touches on issues of human rights, political freedom, and the rule of law.