Kanu’s Surety, Senator Abaribe Backs Out, Asks Court To Refund 100m Bail Bond

Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, has asked a court to discharge him from the surety-ship, bond and recognizance of the bail of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The senator filed an application against the Federal Government, Nnamdi Kanu, and his co-defendants, praying the court to discharge him completely from the incidence of bail of Kanu.

As part of the application, Abaribe also asked for a discharge of the bond used for Kanu’s bail and a refund of N100 million or any other bond paid to the court sequel to the bail.

Senator Abaribe said the move was necessary following Kanu’s disappearance after a raid on his home by men of the Nigerian Army and IPOB proscription by the federal government.

According to him, Kanu has not been been seen or reached, nor made a public appearance or statement.

“Since the afore stated visit of the Nigerian Army to the residence of the first defendant from September 11, 2017, the second respondent in this suit has not been seen again nor reached on phone the applicant neither is he reported in any news media as seen by any person nor made any statement on any issue,” Abaribe said.

“The activities of the Nigerian Army as affecting the first respondent are matters of state secret incapable of being unravelled by the applicant which activities has put the second respondent out of the reach of the applicant such that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to produce the second respondent before this court at any subsequent date.

“The apllicant lacks capacity to produce a person stated by the first respondent to be ma member of a terrorist organization or any person who the first respondent is reported to be interested in his whereabouts in the aftermath of the military operation in Abia state.”

Kanu and his co-defendants, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Chidiebere Onwudiwe are facing criminal trial of treasonable felony, conspiracy, and concealing of good imported into the country.

The IPOB leader was granted bail Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court on April 25. Senator Abaribe, a Jewish Rabbi and traditional ruler stood as surety for him.

The surety and bond of N100 million each which was made available by Senator Abaribe and the two others helped in the release of Kanu from the Kuje Prison in Abuja where he was being held for over a year.