Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s Bail Application, Insists On Delivering Judgment
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed the bail application filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, insisting it would proceed with the scheduled judgment in his terrorism trial.
Kanu, who has been standing trial for several years on terrorism and treasonable felony-related charges, had asked the court to halt the judgment and consider his fresh motions.
However, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the proceedings had been concluded and the court would not entertain further delays.
Naija News had earlier reported that Kanu arrived in court, insisting that no judgment could be delivered because he had filed several new processes.
“There is no judgment as I have filed my processes. No judgment would hold,” he declared at the start of proceedings.
But Justice Omotosho cautioned him to comport himself, stressing that decorum must be maintained and the court would proceed as scheduled.
Kanu, who is representing himself, informed the court that he had filed three separate motions between November 11 and 17.
These included:
A motion asking the court to refer “substantial constitutional issues” to the Court of Appeal, a motion requesting the court to compel the prosecution to file a final written address and a motion seeking bail on liberal terms.
He also claimed that count 7 of the charge does not exist under any written law, arguing that it invalidates the entire trial.
Justice Omotosho consolidated the motions but made it clear the court would not revisit concluded matters.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the issues raised by Kanu had been previously decided by the same court.
“This court is bound by its earlier rulings. The issues regarding the Court of Appeal and the stay of proceedings shall not be entertained. Section 306 of the ACJA prohibits such applications,” he said.
He added that there are two categories of bail recognised in law, and Kanu’s case “does not fall within them.”