Nnamdi Kanu is not in the custody of the Nigerian military - Federal government
- The federal government has denied the allegations that Nnamdi Kanu is in the Nigerian military's custody
- The government denied allegations that Kanu is locked up in any custody of its security operatives
- It accused Senator Abaribe, who stood as Kanu's surety in court, of hiding him from law
The federal government of Nigeria has accused Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of hiding the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from justice.
The government denied that Kanu is in the Nigerian army's custody or any other security operatives custody.
Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that Senator Abaribe, representing Abia south senatorial district prayed to the Federal High Court in Abuja to relieve him of his duty as one of Kanu's sureties.
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The federal government in a counter-affidavit and written address filed before the court to counter Abaribe's request said that the senator knows exactly where to finding the missing defendant, Kanu.
The affidavit stated that Abaribe was aware that Kanu “has long violated the bail conditions handed down by this honourable court” on April 24, 2017 before September 11 when he claimed to have lost contact with the defendant.
It stated: “That it was at this point at violating the conditions at the bail that the senator surety ought to surrender the 1st defendant and or bring up this application;
"That this application is belated and ill-timed;
“The applicant failed to apply to the court timeously, stating on oath that the defendant bound by recognizance to appear before this court had violated the bail condition given by this court.”
The prosecuting counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, argued in the written address that Abaribe “failed woefully” by allegedly aiding and abetting Kanu to flout his bail conditions.
In a written address from Labaran, he argued that Abaribe was guilty of aiding and abetting Kanu.
The written address read: “My lord, the surety has failed woefully to abide by the terms of the contract he entered into with this court and therefore cannot claim frustration.
“My lord, we urge that the court hold, that surety having refused to do what he ought to have done pursuant to section 174 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 aided and abetted the 1st defendant in the flouting of the bail conditions of this court and should forfeit the bond he entered into.”
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Labaran in the address, also reacted to the allegation that Kanu is in the military custody or any other custody with the knowledge of the Nigerian government.
It read: “That the military activities in Abia State tagged ‘Operation Python Dance II’ was a routine exercise in its second year carried out by the military at the end of every year.
“That the 1st defendant is not in the custody of the Nigerian military or any other security agency in that regard.
“That the 1st defendant is in custody of the applicant (Abaribe).”
Kanu's whereabouts is still unknown and he was absent at his court trial on October 17, prompting his surety Abaribe to beg to be relieved of his duty as surety.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Prince Emma Kanu, younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, said that the Igbos will not stay in Nigeria considering that the fact that one tribe determines what happens.
The younger brother of the leader of the IPOB said in spite of the raid by the army, IPOB members remained in high spirit.
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Source: Legit.ng
