The Federal High Court in Abuja declined the bail plea of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, on Tuesday.
Instead, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, opted for an expedited hearing.
Counsel for Kanu, Alloy Ejimakor, had implored the court to grant bail due to Kanu’s deteriorating health and alleged threats to his life while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Ejimakor also argued that continued detention would hinder Kanu’s ability to defend himself effectively.
Contrarily, the prosecution, represented by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), opposed bail, advocating for an accelerated hearing. Awomolo pointed out the availability of medical facilities within the DSS for Kanu’s health needs and highlighted Kanu’s history of jumping bail.
Kanu had previously been granted bail in April 2017 for health reasons after spending 18 months in detention but absconded from the country following a military raid on his residence in September 2017.