The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Senator Eyninnaya Abaribe, and two others standing as sureties for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, to explain the whereabouts of the IPOB leader.
Kanu was absent from court on Tuesday, failing to appear before Justice Binta Nyako to answer to the allegations of treasonable felony levelled against him.
Three of the co-defendants facing the same charges were however brought to the Federal High Court in Abuja by prison officials at about 10am.
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His co-accused already in court are the National Coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe; an IPOB member, Benjamin Madubugwu; and a former Field Maintenance Engineer seconded to the MTN, David Nwawuisi.
Recall that Kanu, who is on bail, was declared missing shortly after men of the Nigerian Army invaded his Abia home town few weeks ago. According to his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, he was last seen on September 14, 2017
Ejiofor told the judge that the Nigerian Army was in the best position to produce the defendant.
Abaribe, who was represented by his lawyer, Mr. Ogechi Ogunna, asked the court to discharge him as Kanu’s surety.
Responding to the plea, Justice Nyako declined the request and insisted that the senator pick one of three options.
One of the options was for Abaribe to produce the defendant in court and then apply to be discharged as a surety.
The other option the judge gave was for Abaribe to be ready to forfeit his N100m bail bond.
The third option was for Abaribe to request to be given time to produce the defendant in court.
After much argument, Ogunna opted to be given time to produce him.
The trial was then adjourned until November 20.